Glossary of Terms

Preaching Gown

A long, flowing black garment that may be worn by the preacher with cassock and preaching tabs. It may have full, bell-shaped sleeves, and velvet bands.

A location where worship services occur. These services may take place on a regular or an irregular basis. The place of meeting may or may not be set apart for church services on a permanent basis. Preaching stations are frequently located in areas of mission development. They may be served by one or more members […]

Preaching Tabs

White starched tabs that may be worn over the neck of the cassock, making an inverted “V” shape. They are also known as preaching bands. They may be worn by a preacher who is not the celebrant at the eucharist.

Prebend

A cathedral benefice, defined in English canon law as an endowment in land or pension in money, was given to a cathedral for maintenance of a secular priest or regular canon. Since the nineteenth century, incomes of prebends have been transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commission of the Church of England. The income is no longer […]

Prebendary

Unknown in America, a prebendary in the Church of England is basically an honorary title given to the holder of a prebend. The income of a prebend is now paid to the Ecclesiastical Commission for the benefit of all the clergy. Prior to the nineteenth century the income was paid to the prebendary.

Precedence, Rules of

The calendar of the church year provides rules of precedence concerning principal feasts, Sundays, holy days, days of special devotion, and days of optional observance (BCP, pp. 15-18). These rules determine which feast or observance has priority. The seven principal feasts (Easter Day, Ascension Day, the Day of Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, All Saints' Day, Christmas […]

Precentor

1) The music director of a cathedral, monastic, or collegiate church. 2) The cantor or singer who introduces a chant. The term is from the Latin, “to sing before.”

Preces

Brief responsive prayers which are often based on verses of scripture, especially the Psalter. The BCP includes such versicles and responses after the Lord's Prayer in Morning Prayer (pp. 55, 97-98) and Evening Prayer (pp. 67-68, 121-122), which are also known as suffrages. The BCP offices also have opening preces (see S 33, S 58 […]

Predella

A raised platform or footpace for the altar.

Preface (Eucharistic)

Introductory section of the eucharistic prayer, including the salutation, the Sursum Corda and ending with the Sanctus. Eastern eucharistic liturgies typically have prefaces with a fixed text that recalls salvation history. This tradition is reflected in Eucharistic Prayer D, based on the liturgy of St. Basil, and Eucharistic Prayer C, both of which have a […]

Prelate

In the Anglican tradition, the term indicates a bishop. The term “prelacy” has been used pejoratively to describe ecclesiastical governance by bishops. In Roman Catholicism, “prelate” has been applied to other ecclesiastical officials such as higher officials of the Roman curia, abbots, cardinals, and popes. Prelates with episcopal authority have been referred to as major […]

Prelude

An event or action that precedes another event or action. For example, An Order of Worship for the Evening may serve “as the introduction to Evening Prayer or some other service, or as the prelude to an evening meal or other activity” (BCP, p. 108). In the Episcopal Church, the term typically refers to a […]

Preparation of the Table and Presentation of the Offerings

It is the function of the deacon to prepare the altar for the celebration of the eucharist, preparing and placing upon it the bread and cup of wine (BCP, p. 407). The deacon may be assisted by other ministers in preparing the table. Although a corporal (small white cloth) is not required by the BCP, […]

Presbyter, Presbyterate

From the Greek presbyteros, “elder” or “old man.” In the NT, “presbyter” indicates a leader of the church. The presbyterate refers to the collegial leadership of the presbyters of the church. A member of the Jewish Sanhedrin was said to belong to the presbyteron, which was the council of the elders of the people (see […]

Prescott, Oliver Sherman

(Mar. 24, 1824-Nov. 17, 1903). Ritualist priest and monk. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in Trinity Church, New Haven, where the rector was the Rev. Harry Croswell, a leading Tractarian priest. Prescott attended Washington College, 1840-1842, and then studied for a year at Yale. He attended the General Theological Seminary and […]

Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, The

A feast of our Lord celebrated on Feb. 2, also known as Candlemas and the Feast of the Purification. It commemorates the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple forty days after Jesus' birth, in accordance with the requirements of Jewish law (Lv 12:2-8). The feast is celebrated about forty […]

Presentment

This is a formal allegation of a canonical offense by an ordained person. The presentment alleges that a triable offense has been committed and that there are reasonable grounds to believe the offense was committed by the person named in the presentment. The presentment is submitted by a standing committee or board of inquiry to […]

President, Presider (liturgical)

The BCP uses the word “celebrant” to describe the priest or bishop who presides at the Holy Eucharist. The word “officiant” is used to describe the minister, lay or ordained, who presides at the Daily Offices. Most contemporary liturgical books use “president” or “presider” for both. “President” is used by the English Alternative Service Book, […]

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church