Glossary of Terms
Christ
The Nicene Creed affirms that Jesus Christ was eternally begotten and the only Son of God the Father, and is of one being with the Father, "God from God, Light […]
Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia
The City of Alexandria was founded in 1749, and a chapel-of-ease, or branch church for the ease of parishioners distant from the main parish church at Falls Church, Virginia, was […]
Christ Church, Philadelphia
This church was founded on Nov. 15, 1695, with the assistance of Henry Compton, the Bishop of London, who had responsibility for the Church of England in the American colonies. […]
Christ School, Arden, North Carolina
This school was founded in 1900 by the Rev. and Mrs. Thomas C. Wetmore on land deeded to them by Mrs. Wetmore's family, the Robertsons. The school was established as […]
Christ the King Sunday
Feast celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It celebrates Christ's messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation. […]
Christendom
Christianity, or Christians collectively, or the regions where Christianity is the dominant faith (“the Christian world”). The term has been associated, at times pejoratively, with the concept of a “Christian […]
Christian Challenge, The
The major publication of the traditionalist movement in Anglicanism. This periodical began publication in Jan. 1962, and was subtitled “A Newsletter for Episcopalians.” The founding editor was Dorothy Allen Faber […]
Christian Communities
According to the canons of the Episcopal Church, a Christian Community is a society of Christians, in communion with the See of Canterbury, who voluntarily commit themselves for life, or […]
Christian Foundations
The Fellowship of Witness (FOW) published this journal from the time of FOW's beginning in 1965. In 1976 Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry and the Rev. Professor Leslie Parke Fairfield […]
Christian Initiation
The sacramental rites incorporating one into the life of the church. In the ancient church such initiation consisted of water baptism, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands, […]
Christian Journal and Literary Register, The
This journal began publication on Jan. 22, 1817, in New York, “under the inspection of the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart.” At first it was published every two weeks, but eventually […]
Christian Nurture Series
A Sunday Church School curriculum for children and high school students designed to encourage growth in the Christian faith and tradition. Published in 1916, it continued in use until it […]
Christian Socialism
The beginnings of Christian socialism in the Church of England are associated with the work of J. M. Ludlow, Charles Kingsley, and F. D. Maurice. Maurice was its prophet and […]
Christmas, or Christ’s Mass
Christmas (in old English, Cristes maesse) is a festival celebrated on Dec. 25, commemorating the Incarnation of the Word of God in the birth of Jesus Christ. In the BCP […]
Christology
The work of Christ concerns the action of God in the Incarnation in "reconciling the world to himself" (2 Cor 5:19). Since the sixteenth century, many Protestant and some Anglican […]
Christus Rex
The earliest depictions of the crucifixion show Christ upon the cross, with body erect and with arms stretched straight out. He is clothed either in a long robe or with […]
Chronicle of the Church
This weekly journal was published in New Haven, Connecticut. The first issue appeared in Jan. 1837. In 1840 the name was changed to Practical Christian and Church Chronicle. It ceased […]
Chronicle, The
A monthly journal first published and edited by Alexander Griswold Cummins (1868-1946), at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, New York. Cummins was a consummate low churchman who refused to have a cross […]
Chronos
Measured quantitative time. See Kairos.
Chrysom
See Chrisom or chrysom or chrysome.
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.