An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Glossary of Terms


Hart, Samuel

(June 4, 1845-Feb. 25, 1917). Secretary of the House of Bishops and dean of the Berkeley Divinity School. He was born in Saybrook, Connecticut. Hart received his B.A. from Trinity […]

Hatchett, Marion Josiah

(b. July 19, 1927). A leading liturgical scholar of the twentieth century. He was born in Monroe, South Carolina. His father was a Methodist pastor. Hatchett was confirmed in the […]

Haven, Emily Bradley Neal

(Sept. 13, 1827-Aug. 23, 1863). One of the best known popular Episcopal writers of morally instructive novellas in the nineteenth century. She was born in Hudson, New York. She married […]

Hawaii, Diocese of

The 1901 General Convention formed the Missionary District of Honolulu, and on Mar. 9, 1902, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Honolulu, was consecrated. On Sept. 4, 1969, the General Convention voted to […]

Hawks, Francis Lister

(June 10, 1798-Sept. 27, 1866). Early historian of the Episcopal Church, and a popular preacher. He was born in New Bern, North Carolina. Hawks graduated from the University of North […]

Haywood Collection of Negro Spirituals, The

A collection of seventeen Negro spirituals collected by Carl W. Haywood (b. 1949). It was published in 1992. These Negro spirituals were all included in Lift Every Voice and Sing […]

Heathcote, Caleb

(Mar. 6, 1666-Mar. 1, 1720). Leading churchman in New York. He was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. Heathcote came to New York in 1691 and soon became a wealthy merchant […]

Heaven

Eternal life in our enjoyment of God (BCP, p. 862). The unending fulfillment of salvation and happiness in relationship with God. Heaven has been equated with the beatific vision, and […]

Heber, Reginald

(Apr. 21, 1783-Apr. 3, 1826). British bishop and hymn writer. He was born in Malpas, Cheshire, England. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, and a Fellow of All Souls. […]

Hell

Eternal death in our rejection of God (BCP, p. 862). This state or place of separation from God is closely related to the concept of human free will. We may […]

Henderson, Jacob

(1681-Aug. 27, 1751). Commissary to Maryland. He was born in Ireland. Henderson was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1710 and appointed to a mission in Dover, Kent County, […]

Henrico College, Virginia

In 1618 the London Company ratified a former grant whereby a suitable place at Henrico, Virginia, was set aside to establish a university. Ten thousand acres were allotted for endowing […]

Heraldry, Ecclesiastical

Heraldry is the science of devising appropriate "bearings" (emblems) for military armor and determining the right of persons to certain arms or bearings through genealogical study. Heraldry has also been […]

Herbert, George

(Apr. 3, 1593-Mar. 1, 1633). A priest considered to be one of the chief devotional poets of the Anglican Communion. Herbert was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. […]

Heresy

The term is derived from the Greek hairesis, which means “choice” or “thing chosen.” Traditionally, heresy was the sin of a baptized and professing Christian who denied a defined doctrine […]

Hermann von Wied of Cologne

(1477-1552). He was Archbishop-elector of Cologne, and he called a provincial council in 1536 to institute reforms. The canons enacted there were published in 1538 with an Encheridion (handbook or […]

Hermit, Hermitess

A person who lives alone for religious reasons. The term is from the Greek for “wilderness” or “uninhabited regions.” Hermits often live in a place that is remote from others. […]

Hesychasm

A style of piety associated with the eastern church and ascribed to the monks of Mt. Athos in the fourteenth century. The word means “quiet.” The monks of Mt. Athos […]

Heuss, John

(July 30, 1908-Mar. 20, 1966). Leader in the post-World War II development of Christian education in the Episcopal Church. He was born in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and received his B.A. […]

Higgins, John Seville

(Apr. 14, 1904-Dec. 28, 1992). Bishop and ecumenist. He was born in London, England. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1928 and Western Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1931. He […]

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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.