Glossary of Terms
Narrative Criticism
A new method of interpretation of scripture. “Narrative” refers to a story which has a plot and moves from a beginning to an end. It is applicable to the gospels […]
Narthex
An entry space, foyer, or anteroom of a church between the door and the nave. The term is from the Greek for a “small case.” Historically, the narthex was an […]
Nashotah House, Nashotah, Wisconsin
A theological seminary of the Episcopal Church in the catholic tradition. It was founded on Aug. 30, 1842, by three young deacons, James Lloyd Breck, William Adams, and John Henry […]
Nashotah Quarterly Review
This journal first appeared in the Fall of 1960. It was published by Nashotah House. With the Fall 1970 issue the name was changed to Nashotah Review. It ceased publication […]
Nashotah Scholiast
A publication of the Bishop Welles Brotherhood at Nashotah House from Dec. 1883 until July/Aug. 1885. With the next issue, the name was changed to the Church Scholiast.
Nation-Wide Campaign
A movement launched by the 1919 General Convention “designed to bring the spiritual and material resources of the Church to bear most effectively and adequately upon her whole task as […]
Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The
See Christmas, or Christ's Mass.
Nativity of St. John the Baptist, The
This feast of our Lord is celebrated on June 24 in the Episcopal calendar of the church year. Luke’s gospel (Chapter 1) records that John was miraculously born to Zechariah […]
Natural Law
Universal moral law that is given by God and knowable by human reason. It has been understood in terms of ethics that can be derived from reflection on ordinary human […]
Navajoland Area Mission
Article VI of the Episcopal Church Constitution provides for the establishment of an area mission of the church for territory not included within a diocese. The 1976 General Convention authorized […]
Nave
The place in the church building for the congregation. It is between the sanctuary and the narthex or entry of the church building. The term may be derived from the […]
Neal, Emily Gardiner
(Oct. 22, 1910-Sept. 23, 1989). Leader of the healing movement in the Episcopal Church. She was born in New York. She was educated at Brearly School and David Mannes College […]
Neale, John Mason
(Jan. 24, 1818-Aug. 6, 1866). British cleric, hymn writer, and translator. He was born in London. Neale was caught up with the ideals of the Oxford Movement while he was […]
Neau, Elias
(1662-Sept. 7, 1722). A successful “missionary vestryman” in colonial New York. He was born in France to Huguenot parents. He fled the country in 1679 and became an English citizen. […]
Nebraska College and Divinity School, Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska College and Divinity School was started at Nebraska City in 1861, the second year of the episcopate of the Rt. Rev. Joseph Cruikshank Talbot (1816-1883), Missionary Bishop of the […]
Nebraska, Diocese of
The territory of Nebraska was first under the jurisdiction of Jackson Kemper, Missionary Bishop of Missouri and Indiana. In 1859 it became a part of the jurisdiction of the Missionary […]
Neo-Pentecostal
See Charismatic Renewal, or Neo-Pentecostalism.
Nestorianism
A heretical teaching that understood Christ to be two persons, one human and one divine. It also held that Mary was not the Mother of God (“Theotokos”), but only the […]
Nevada, Diocese of
The diocese includes the entire state of Nevada. It was preceded by a number of missionary districts. On Oct. 21, 1865, the House of Bishops established the Missionary District of […]
New American Bible, The (1970)
The first Roman Catholic Bible translated into English from the original Hebrew and Greek. The work was done by members of the Catholic Biblical Association of America. It was commissioned […]
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.