Glossary of Terms
Profession (Monastic)
The commitment by which one becomes a full member of a monastic or religious community. This is usually through the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Temporary vows, or […]
Proper
Variable parts of the eucharistic liturgy and the Daily Office which are appointed for a particular day according the the season or occasion. These parts of the liturgy may be […]
Prophet, Prophecy
A prophet in the OT was called a messenger to proclaim the word of the God of the covenant to the people of the covenant. Prophecy refers to the message […]
Propitiation
The appeasement of divine wrath through sacrifice or its substitute in prayer. The term is not in current usage. It was used in older versions of the BCP. It appears […]
Proposed Book
The Book of Common Prayer, . . . As Revised and Proposed to the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church (1786) incorporated recommendations from Connecticut and from the other New […]
Proposed Book of Common Prayer
Proposals for revision of the 1928 BCP were first published by the Standing Liturgical Commission in a series of Prayer Book Studies, the first of which was published in 1950. […]
Prostration
Lying full length and face down on the floor or ground as a gesture of humility and devotion. This posture may also express adoration or submission. Historically, prostrations have been […]
Protestant Churchman, The
This weekly magazine began publication on Aug. 12, 1843, in New York City. In 1862 its name was changed to Christian Times. In 1866 the title was changed to the […]
Protestant Episcopal Quarterly Review and Church Register
A low church publication critical of Roman Catholicism that was published in New York from Jan. 1854 until Oct. 1861, by the Rev. Herman Dyer.
Protestant Episcopal Review
A journal which claimed to be conservative and yet progressive, liberal and yet reverent, critical and yet constructive, scholarly and popular, catholic and protestant. It was an outgrowth of two […]
Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, The; Alexandria, Virginia (VTS)
This school, also called the Virginia Theological Seminary, was formed by the Society for the Education of Pious Young Men for the Ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Maryland […]
Protestantism
Western Christianity that is not subject to papal authority. The term is from the protestatio at the Diet of Speyer of 1529 by Lutheran princes against the policies of Charles […]
Province
1) An internal division of an autonomous national (or multi-national) church of the Anglican Communion. The churches of England and Ireland, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of […]
Provincial Synod
The Episcopal Church is divided into nine provinces. Each province has a synod consisting of a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies. These houses sit and deliberate either […]
Provoost, Samuel
(Feb. 26, 1742-Sept. 6, 1815). First Bishop of New York. He was born in New York City and graduated from King's College (Columbia) in 1758. Later he studied at St. […]
Provost
In the Episcopal Church the title has been used to indicate a priest in charge of a cathedral when the bishop is the dean. Historically, the provost was the official […]
Puerto Rico, Diocese of
The Puerto Rican ministry of the Diocese of Antigua was transferred to the Episcopal Church on Oct. 5, 1891. The General Convention of 1901 established the Missionary District of Puerto […]
Pulkingham, William Graham
(Sept. 14, 1926- Apr. 16, 1993). Charismatic leader. He was born in Alliance, Ohio. Pulkingham received his B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and his M.Div. from the Episcopal […]
Purcell, Henry
(1659-Nov. 21, 1695). Outstanding English composer. He was born in London. At age eight Purcell was a chorister in the Chapel Royal. He was appointed an unpaid assistant to the […]
Purgatory
A doctrine traceable to patristic times of a temporary, intermediate state between heaven and hell. As developed in the Roman Catholic Church, purgatory is a state or place of hope […]
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.