An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Glossary of Terms


Coverdale’s Bible

The first completed Bible printed in English, translated by Miles Coverdale. It was produced on the Continent and issued in 1535. This translation was based on the Vulgate, Luther's German […]

Cowley Fathers

” See Society of St. John the Evangelist, The (SSJE) (Cowley Fathers).

Cowley Publications

The publishing ministry of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), an Anglican religious order for men. Cowley Publications was founded in 1979 by M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, and […]

Cowper, William

(Nov. 15, 1731-Apr. 25, 1800). British poet and hymn-writer. His life was marred by deep melancholy which began in his school days at Westminster School and oppressed him until his […]

Coxe, Arthur Cleveland

(May 10, 1818-July 20, 1896). Leading figure of the high church party. He was born in Mendham, New Jersey. He graduated from the University of New York in 1838 and […]

Cram, Ralph Adams

(Dec. 16, 1863-Sept. 22, 1942). Church architect. He was born in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. After completing high school in 1880, he studied for five years in an architectural firm […]

Cranmer, Thomas

(July 2, 1489-Mar. 21, 1556). First Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican Reformation. He was born in Aslockton, Nottinghamshire, England. Cranmer received his B.A. from Jesus College, […]

Crapsey, Algernon Sidney

(June 28, 1847-Dec. 31, 1927). Priest deposed for heresy. He was born in Fairmount, Ohio. He studied at St. Stephen's College (now Bard College) from 1867 to 1869 and received […]

Creationism

1) Understanding that God creates and directly infuses a new soul in every person at conception. The soul is understood to be created by God out of nothing. Creationism denies […]

Cremation

The reducing by fire of a dead body to ashes. The ashes may be placed in an urn or other container and interred in a niche of a columbarium. The […]

Croes, John

(June 1, 1762-July 26, 1832). First Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. He was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He pursued a brief career as a teacher and served […]

Cross

The instrument of Jesus' death and the central symbol of the Christian faith. It represents Jesus' offering and sacrifice of his life in love for us and our salvation. The […]

Cross, Wilford Oakland

(July 26, 1903-Sept. 12, 1978). Priest and theologian. He was born in Nottinghamshire, England. His family moved to the United States when he was nine years old. Cross received his […]

Croswell, William

(Nov. 7, 1804-Nov. 9, 1851). Leading Anglo-catholic. He was born in Hudson, New York. Croswell graduated from Yale College in 1822, and for the next two years was an assistant […]

Crozier, or Crosier

The pastorial staff of a Bishop. It was originally a walking stick and later acquired the symbolism of a shepherd’s crook. It is a sign of pastoral authority. It may […]

Crucifixion

Death by nailing or binding to a wooden cross. The practice began in the ancient east and was common among the Romans as punishment inflicted on slaves and certain non-Romans. […]

Crummell, Alexander

(1819-Sept. 12, 1898). African American priest, missionary, and educator. He was born in New York City. Crummell completed a course of study at the Oneida Institute, Whitesboro, New York, in […]

Cry Hosanna

This volume of 142 songs and hymns with music was edited by Betty Pulkingham and Mimi Farra and published by Hope Publishing in 1980. Its predecessors were Sound of Living […]

Cuba, Missionary District of

On Oct. 17, 1901, the House of Bishops established the Missionary District of Cuba. At first it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Presiding Bishop. In 1904 the first […]

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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.