An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Glossary of Terms


Canon 9 Clergy

” Priests and deacons ordained to serve in a particular location which is “small, isolated, remote, or distinct in respect of ethnic composition, language, or culture.” These locations cannot otherwise be provided sufficiently with the sacraments and pastoral ministrations of the Episcopal Church through ordained ministry. The term refers to the canon by which such […]

Canonical Hours

In the monastic traditions of the western church, the appointed times for prayer throughout the day. Benedict (c. 480-c. 547) set the basis for this pattern of daily prayer in his Rule for Monasteries. The seven “hours” are: matins and lauds (usually counted as a single hour), in the middle of the night; prime, at […]

Canonical Residence

Clergy serving under the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical authority of a diocese (typically the diocesan bishop) are canonically resident in that diocese. Clergy may move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction by presenting Letters Dimissory, a testimonial by the ecclesiastical authority of the former diocese that the clergyperson has not “been justly liable to evil report, for […]

Cantab

Pertaining to or belonging to Cambridge, England. It is a colloquial abbreviation of Cantabrigian, which comes from the Latin Cantabrigiensis. Usages include reference to degrees and diplomas conferred by the University of Cambridge. It usually follows nouns in titles, such as M.A. Cantab.

Cantate Domino

The Latin incipit or opening phrase for Ps 98 which in earlier Prayer Books began “O sing unto the Lord a new song.” Objection was raised to use in the 1549 Prayer Book of the “Gospel canticles” (Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis) by some who believed that these songs of Zechariah, Mary, and Simeon could […]

Cantemus Domino

See Song of Moses, The.

Canterbury

The city in southeastern England that became the ecclesiastical center for England and, eventually, the Anglican Communion. The Benedictine monk Augustine founded the church in Canterbury on his mission from Rome in 597. From there Christianity spread throughout England. Canterbury has had a preeminence from the beginning of the English church. The Archbishop of Canterbury […]

Canterbury Cap

” A four-cornered cloth cap that is sometimes worn by Anglican clergy. It is soft, flat, and typically black in color. The Canterbury cap reflects a style of academic headgear that developed during the later middle ages. It served to keep the head warm in drafty lecture halls and churches. It is occasionally used by […]

Canterbury College

This school was established in 1946 and closed in 1951. It was begun with the gift of the buildings and campus of Central Normal College, which was founded on Sept. 5, 1876. It was at Danville, Indiana.

Canterbury Statement

This agreed statement on Ministry and Ordination was finalized by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) at Canterbury in 1973. It was eventually included within the ARCIC Final Report (1982). It expressed agreement upon such matters as the origins of sacramental ordination, emergence of the threefold ministry, relationship of the ordained ministry to the laity, […]

Canticle

A non-metrical song used in liturgical worship. Canticles are drawn from biblical texts other than the Psalter. The term is derived from the Latin canticulum, a “little song.” In practice, canticles are sung or said in worship. The BCP provides contemporary and traditional language canticles. Contemporary language canticles may be used in traditional language services […]

Cantor

A singer who sets the pitch and leads the liturgical singing of psalms, canticles, anthems, and other sung texts. Cantors often lead unaccompanied singing. In responsorial recitation of the Psalter, the cantor sings the verses of the psalm and the congregation sings a refrain after each verse or group of verses. This was the traditional […]

Cantoris

The term is from Latin meaning “place of the cantor.” Traditionally, the cantor sat on the north side of the cathedral. In antiphonal singing, the term cantoris indicates those who sit on the cantoral or cantor's side of the choir of a church or cathedral. The opposite side is known as “decani.” The terms were […]

Cantrix

A female cantor. See Cantor.

Canvass, Every Member

See Every Member Canvass.

Cape Palmas, Missionary District of

See Liberia, Diocese of.

Cappadocians, or Cappadocian Fathers

Three important theologians of the Patristic Era. Basil the Great of Caesarea (330-379), his brother Gregory of Nyssa (c. 330-395), and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389) all came from Cappadocia, a Roman province in what is now Turkey. In their lives and literary works, the three friends were largely responsible for extending the Nicene […]

Cardinal Rector

” An influential rector, usually of a large parish.

Cardinal Virtues

For Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), the cardinal virtues form the basis for moral growth and development in all persons, although for Christians they can only be understood and fully achieved through God's grace as given in the theological virtues. Initially stated in Book Four of Plato's Republic, Aristotle develops the cardinal virtues in his Ethics as […]

Carey, Arthur

(June 26, 1822-Apr. 4, 1844). Controversial figure in the Oxford Movement. He was born in the vicinity of London, England. When he was eight years old, his father moved the family to New York City. In 1839 he graduated from Columbia College. Carey was considered “the most brilliant student in the [General] Seminary” in the […]

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Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.