Glossary of Terms
Officiant
The person who leads the Daily Office or another church service. The term may indicate a member of the clergy or a lay person. The BCP uses the term to […]
Oglethorpe, James Edward
(Dec. 22, 1696-July 1, 1785). Social reformer and founder of Georgia. He was born in London. After education at Eton and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he entered the army in […]
Ohio, Diocese of
The diocese was first organized on Jan. 5, 1818. The 1874 General Convention voted to divide the diocese and establish the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The Diocese of Ohio includes […]
OI
See Oil, Holy.
Oil Stock
Small container for oil that has been blessed for use as chrism or for anointing the sick. The oil stock is typically made of metal, and it may be decorated […]
Oil, Holy
Olive oil that has been blessed is used sacramentally in the liturgical and pastoral ministries of the church. Holy oil is usually applied by the minister of the sacrament or […]
Okalona College
Okalona Industrial School, Okalona, Mississippi, was founded in 1902 by Wallace A. Battle as a high school and junior college for African American students to prepare for vocations in manual […]
Okinawa, Missionary District of
The House of Bishops established the Missionary District of Okinawa on Sept. 18, 1967. The first and only Missionary Bishop of Okinawa was the Rt. Rev. Edmond L. Browning. On […]
Oklahoma, Diocese of
The House of Bishops in 1859 established the Missionary District of the Southwest. This included Oklahoma. The 1892 General Convention established the Missionary District of Oklahoma. In 1910 the General […]
Old North Church, Boston
It was in the tower of this church on Apr. 18, 1775, that the sexton, Robert Newman, displayed the two lanterns which warned Paul Revere and his fellow riders that […]
Old Swede’s Church, Wilmington, Delaware
Officially named Holy Trinity from its consecration on Trinity Sunday, July 4, 1699, it was the oldest of the Swedish Lutheran churches. The congregation existed from the establishment of the […]
Old Testament
The name traditionally given to the first thirty-nine books of the Christian Bible, i.e., Genesis through Malachi in Protestant versions. Roman Catholic versions and those of the various Orthodox churches […]
Olney Hymns
A 1779 collection of sixty-eight texts by William Cowper (1731-1800) and 280 texts by John Newton (1725-1807). Some of the texts were previously published. Most current hymnals include some texts […]
Olympia, Diocese of
On Oct. 13, 1853, the General Convention established the Missionary District of the Oregon and Washington Territory. On Oct. 15, 1880, the General Convention divided this Missionary District into the […]
Onderdonk, Benjamin Tredwell
(July 15, 1791-Apr. 30, 1861). Controversial Bishop of New York. He was born in New York City. Onderdonk graduated from Columbia College in 1809. He studied theology under Bishop John […]
Onderdonk, Henry Ustick
(Mar. 16, 1789-Dec. 6, 1858). Controversial Bishop of Pennsylvania. He was born in New York City. Onderdonk graduated from Columbia College in 1805, and then studied medicine in London and […]
Ontology
Deriving from the present participle of the Greek verb “to be,” it is the study of being. Ontology studies being in its general, common nature rather than in its particular […]
Open
See Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Music.
Open Communion
An invitation extended to baptized communicants in good standing of one church to receive the Holy Eucharist of another church. The practice is to be distinguished from “free communion” in […]
Open Pulpit
This policy allows sermons to be delivered at public worship by persons who are not ordained or specially licensed to preach. In the Episcopal Church, sermons are normally given by […]
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.