Preferred form
Main variants
Explanation
The pronouncement by a priest of the forgiveness of sins.
AD
Anno Domini
In the Year of our Lord. The Christian calendar dates from the estimated date of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Advent
Coming. The period beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (40 days before Christmas in the Eastern Orthodox tradition). A time of spiritual preparation for Christmas.
Agape
The love of God. New Testament word used for the common meal of Christians; a Love Feast.
Altar
Communion Table, Holy Table
Table used for Eucharist, Mass, Lord's Supper. Some denominations refer to it as Holy Table or Communion Table.
Anglican
Churches in full communion with the See of Canterbury. Their origins and traditions are linked to the Church of England, and are part of the Anglican Communion.
Apocalyptic
(i) Revelatory, of God's present purposes and of the end of the world. (ii) Used of a literary genre, e.g. the Book of Revelation.
Apocrypha
Books of the Old Testament that are in the Greek but not the Hebrew Canon. Some Churches recognise the Apocrypha as part of the Old Testament Canon.
Apocryphal New Testament
A modern title for various early Christian books which are non-canonical.
Apostle
One who was sent out by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel.
Ascension
The event, 40 days after the Resurrection, when Jesus 'ascended into heaven' (see Luke 24 and Acts 1).
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent. In some Churches, penitents receive the sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads.
Atonement
Reconciliation between God and humanity; restoring a relationship broken by sin.
Rite of initiation involving immersion in, or sprinkling or pouring of, water.
Baptist
(i) A member of the Baptist Church, which grew out of the Anabaptist movement during the ]6th century Reformation. (ii) A Christian who practises Believer's Baptism.
Baptistry
(i) Building or pool used for baptism, particularly by immersion. (ii) Part of a church, where baptism takes place.
BC
Before Christ
Period of history before the estimated birth of Jesus Christ.
Believer's Baptism
The baptism of people who are old enough to understand the meaning of the rite.
Benediction
Blessing at the end of worship. Also, late afternoon or evening service including the blessing of the congregation with the consecrated host (usually in a Roman Catholic context).
Blessed Sacrament
Bread and wine which have been consecrated and set aside for future use (usually in the Roman Catholic Church).
Scripture
The accepted books of the Bible. The list varies between denominations.
Catholic
(i) Universal. (ii) Often used as an abbreviation for Roman Catholic.
Charismatic
A modern movement within the Church, emphasising spiritual gifts, such as healing or speaking with tongues.
Chrismation
(i) The Orthodox second sacrament of initiation by anointing with chrism (a special oil). Performed at the same time as baptism. (ii) Anointing with oil, e.g. healing or coronation.
Christ
Messiah
The anointed one. Messiah is used in the Jewish tradition to refer to the expected leader sent by God, who will bring salvation to God's people. Jesus' followers applied this title to him, and its Greek equivalent, Christ, is the source of the words Christian and Christianity.
Christmas
Festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ (25 December, in most Churches).
Church
(i) The whole community of Christians. (ii) The building in which Christians worship. (iii) A particular denomination
Confession
Contrition; penance. (i) One of seven sacraments observed by some Churches whose priest confidentially hears a person's confession. (ii) An admission, by a Christian, of wrong-doing. (iii) A particular official statement (or profession) of faith.
Congregationalist
Member of a Christian body which believes that each local church is independent and self- governing under the authority of Christ.
Consubstantiation
Doctrine of the Eucharist associated with Luther, which holds that after consecration, the substances of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and of the bread and wine co-exist in union with each other.
Creed
Summary statement of religious beliefs, often recited in worship, especially the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds.
Crucifixion
Roman method of executing criminals and traitors by fastening them to a cross until they died of asphyxiation; used in the case of Jesus Christ and many who opposed the Romans.
Central Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Ecumenism
Oikoumene
Movement within the Church towards co- operation and eventual unity.
Episcopacy
System of Church government by bishops.
Epistle
letter
From the Greek word for letter. Several such letters or epistles, from Christian leaders to Christian Churches or individuals. are included in the New Testament.
Eucharist
Thanksgiving. A service celebrating the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, using elements of bread and wine (see Holy Communion).
Evangelical
Group, or church, placing particular emphasis on the Gospel and the scriptures as the sole authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Evangelist
A writer of one of the four New Testament Gospels; a preacher of the gospel.
Receptacle to hold water used in baptism.
Free Churches
Non-conformist denominations, free from state control (used of 20 Churches).
The Friday in Holy Week. Commemorates the day Jesus died on the cross.
Gospel
Evangel
(i) Good news (of salvation in Jesus Christ). (ii) An account of Jesus' life and work.
Grace
(i) The freely given and unmerited favour of God's love for humanity. (ii) Blessing. (iii) Prayer of thanks before or after meals.
The place, or state, in which souls will be united with God after death.
Hell
The place, or state, in which souls will be separated from God after death.
Holy Communion
Central liturgical service observed by most Churches (see Eucharist, Mass, Lord's Supper, Liturgy). Recalls the last meal of Jesus, and celebrates his sacrificial and saving death.
Holy Spirit
The third person of the Holy Trinity. Active as divine presence and power in the world, and in dwelling in believers to make them like Christ and empower them to do God's will.
Holy Week
The week before Faster, when Christians recall the last week of Jesus' life on Earth.
Painting or mosaic of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, a saint, or a Church feast. Used as an aid to devotion, usually in the Orthodox tradition.
lconostasis
Screen, covered with icons, used in Eastern Orthodox churches to separate the sanctuary from the nave.
Incarnation
The doctrine that God took human form in Jesus Christ. It is also the belief that God in Christ is active in the Church and in the world.
The central figure of Christian history and devotion. The second person of the Trinity.
Justification by Faith
The doctrine that God forgives ('treats as just') those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ
The central message about Jesus proclaimed by the early Christians.
Kyrie (Greek)
0 Lord. Addressed to Jesus, as in 'Kyrie eleison' (Lord have mercy).
Stand supporting the Bible, often in the shape of an eagle.
Lectionary
List of scriptural passages for systematic reading throughout the year.
Lent
Penitential season. The 40 days leading up to Easter.
Liturgy
(i) Service of worship according to a prescribed ritual such as Evensong or Eucharist. (ii) Term used in the Orthodox Church for the Eucharist.
Logos
Word. Pre-existent Word of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.
Lord
Title used for Jesus to express his divine lordship over people, time and space.
Lord's Supper
Alternative term for Eucharist in some Churches (predominantly Non-conformist).
Lutheran
A major Protestant Church that receives its name from the 16th century German reformer, Martin Luther.
Term for the Eucharist, used by the Roman Catholic and other churches.
Maundy Thursday
The Thursday in Holy Week. Commemorates the Last Supper.
Methodist
A Christian who belongs to the Methodist Church which came into existence through the work of John Wesley in the ]8th century.
Missal
Book containing words and ceremonial directions for saying Mass.
Mother of God
The title given to the Virgin Mary, mainly in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, to underline the Trinitarian belief that Jesus was truly God (in this context, God refers to God incarnate as seen in Jesus Christ).
Collection of 27 books forming the second section of the Canon of Christian Scriptures.
Non-conformist
Protestant Christian bodies which became separated from the established Church of England in the 1 7th century.
That part of the Canon of Christian Scriptures which the Church shares with Judaism, comprising 39 books covering the Hebrew Canon, and in the case of certain denominations, some books of the Apocrypha.
Ordination
In episcopal Churches, the 'laying on of hands' on priests and deacons by a bishop. In non-episcopal Churches, the 'laying on of hands' on ministers by other representatives of the Church.
Orthodox
(i) The Eastern Orthodox Church consisting of national Churches (mainly Greek or Slav), including the ancient Eastern Patriarchates. They hold the common Orthodox faith, and are in communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
(ii) Conforming to the creeds sanctioned by the ecumenical councils, e.g. Nicaea, Chalcedon.
The Sunday before Easter, commemorating the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem when he was acknowledged by crowds waving palm branches.
Paraclete
Comforter
Advocate. Term used for the Holy Spirit.
Parousia
Presence. The Second Coming or return of Jesus Christ.
Passion
The sufferings of Jesus Christ, especially in the time leading up to his crucifixion.
Patriarch
Title for principal Eastern Orthodox bishops. Also used for early Israelite leaders such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.
Pentecost
Whitsun
The Greek name for the Jewish Festival of Weeks, or Shavuot, which comes seven weeks ('fifty days') after Passover. On the day of this feast, the followers of Jesus received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecostalist
A Christian who belongs to a Church that emphasises certain gifts which were granted to the first believers on the Day of Pentecost (such as the power to heal the sick and speak in tongues).
Pope
The Bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church .
Presbyterian
A member of a Church that is governed by elders or 'presbyters'; the national Church of Scotland.
Protestant
That part of the Church which became distinct from the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches when their members professed (or 'protested' - hence Protestant) the centrality of the Bible and other beliefs. Members affirm that the Bible, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the ultimate authority for Christian teaching.
Pulpit
An elevated platform from which sermons are preached.
Purgatory
In some traditions, a condition or state in which good souls receive spiritual cleansing after death, in preparation for heaven .
A member of the Religious Society of Friends, established through the work of George Fox in the 1 7th century.
Confession
(i) Sacrament of the (Roman) Catholic Church, consisting of Contrition, Confession of sins, and Absolution. (ii) The human process of reconciling Christians with one another.
Redemption
Derived from the practice of paying the price of a slave's freedom; and so, the work of Jesus Christ in setting people free through his death.
Reformation
A 16th century reform movement that led to the formation of Protestant Churches. It emphasised the need to recover the initial beliefs and practices of the Church.
Resurrection
(i) The rising from the dead of Jesus Christ on the third day after the crucifixion. (ii) The rising from the dead of believers at the last Day. (iii) The new, or risen, life of Christians.
Roman Catholic
That part of the Church owing loyalty to the Bishop of Rome, as distinct from Orthodox and Protestant Churches.
An outward sign of an inward blessing, as in baptism or the Eucharist.
Salvationist
A member of the Salvation Army founded by William and Catherine Booth in the 19th century.
Sanctification
The process by which a believer is made holy, to become like Jesus Christ.
Sin
(i) Act of rebellion or disobedience against the known will of God. (ii) An assessment of the human condition as disordered and in need of transformation.
Synoptic
Having a common viewpoint. It is applied to the presentation of Jesus' life in the first three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke in contrast with that given in the Gospel of John.
(i) A receptacle for the Blessed Sacrament, not immediately consumed but set aside or reserved' (mainly in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches). The presence of the consecrated elements is usually signalled by a continuously burning light. (ii) Term used by some denominations of their building.
Transubstantiation
Roman Catholic doctrine concerning the Mass, defined at the Lateran Council of 1 21 5, and confirmed at the Council of Trent in 1 551. This states that in the Eucharist, at the words of consecration, the substance of the bread and wine becomes the substance of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and that he is thus present on the altar.
Trinity
Three persons in one God; doctrine of the three- fold nature of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Sacrament of the Sick
The anointing with oil of a sick or dying person
United Reformed Church
A Church formed by the union of English Congregationalists with the Presbyterian Church of England, and subsequently the Reformed Association of the Churches of Christ.
The residence of the Pope in Rome, and the administrative centre of the Roman Catholic Church. The chief building of the Vatican is St Peter's Basilica, built on the traditional site of St Peter's tomb.
Virgin Birth
The doctrine of the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit and without the agency of a human father.