Advowson - this is the right in English law of presenting a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical
benefice. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a church office
in a parish.
Altar - the holiest part of a church. In the medieval period the altar was a table
or rectangular slab made of stone or marble, often set upon a raised step. After
the Reformation the stone altars were replaced by wooden communion tables.
BCP - Book of Common Prayer
Canticle - a hymn (strictly excluding the Psalms) taken from the Bible. The term
is often expanded to included ancient non-Biblical hymns such as the Te Deum and
certain psalms used liturgically. Its meaning can be further expanded to include:
a song, especially a hymn (as in "Canticle of Canticles", another way to refer to
the biblical book Song of Solomon: A canto or division of a poem.
Chalice - A chalice (from Latin 'calix', cup) is a goblet intended to hold drink.
In general religious terms, it is a goblet intended for drinking some beverage during
a ceremony. In Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglican, Lutheran and some
other Christian denominations, a chalice is a wine cup used during the Eucharist,
also called the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
Chancel - the eastern end of a church/area around the altar of a church for the clergy
and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing
Chorus - a modern verson of a hymn, normally written to be accompanied using modern
instruments. This is a very different style to the more traditional and familiar
hymn used in many churches. Modern songwriters are bringing choruses and hymns have
not been written for many years. The popularity is increasing, partly due to a lack
of trained organists.
(Holy) Communion - symbolic recreation of the Last Supper where Jesus used bread
and wine to symbolise his death; bread represented his body and wine his blood.
Font - a container, generally of stone, which contained holy water for baptism. Usually
located near the west door, sometimes the fonts had elaborately carved wooden canopies.
Hymn - a hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the
purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a god or other
religiously significant figure. It is now associated with very traditional forms
of musical worship in church services, accompanied by an organ. They are being replaced,
in more and more churches, with the far more modern sounding choruses. One such reason
for this change is the lack of properly trained organists in churches.
Tracery - Tracery is constructed of net-like decorations around upper windows in
Gothic architecture.
Lancet Windows - In gothic architecture, a lancet is an acutely pointed arch
Nave - the western arm of the church, where the congregation stood.
Paten - A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used
to hold Eucharistic hosts.
Pinnacles - A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or
crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners
of towers and in many other situations.
Piscina - a special basin that is connected by a pipe directly to the ground. Its
purpose is to dispose of water used sacramentally, and particles of the consecrated
Eucharist by returning these particles directly to the earth from which it came.
Quatrefoil Frieze - The quatrefoil enjoyed its peak popularity during the Gothic
Revival and Renaissance, but can still be seen on countless churches and cathedrals
today. It is most commonly found as tracery, mainly in Gothic architecture, where
a quatrefoil can often be seen at the top of a Gothic arch, sometimes with stained
glass on the interior
Sedilia - In ecclesiastical architecture, the term given to the seats (often) on
the south side of the chancel near the altar for the use of the officiating priests.
These rebated seats are found in the chancel of churches and monasteries and were
for the use of the celebrant and their assistants. The seat is often set back into
the main wall of the church itself.
Serpent - The Serpent is an ancient musical wind instrument, related to the modern
Tuba, Euphonium, and Bariton
Transom - this is the architectural term given to the horizontal lintel or beam which
is framed across a window, dividing it into stages or heights. In early Gothic ecclesiastical
work transoms are only found in belfry unglazed windows or spire lights, where they
were deemed necessary to strengthen the mullions in the absence of the iron stay
bars, which in glazed windows served a similar purpose.
Vestry - room where the clergy and choir dress and the vestments are kept
Some definitions were taken from From Wikipedia, various dictionaries or other accessible
information. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge.
