Customer Reviews

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians

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Can you tell the difference between the ICEL and the ICET? Does a Lay Reader perform the Laying on of Hands? Do you know what EDS, CDSP, ETSS and 'General' have in common? What is fair about Fair Linen?

The answers to these and many other questions can be found in this book, 'An Episcopal Dictionary for the Church'. It is an encyclopedic dictionary, spanning nearly 600 pages of text (many dictionaries are more of a handbook variety, with brief definitions and far fewer pages). This dictionary has a roster of over thirty contributors from the length and breadth of the church, and a bibliography that is well over a hundred items in length.

Even with the number of pages, there are a few omissions. There is no entry for lavabo, for example; there are many definitions and descriptions that relate to vestments, church elements and architecture, music and liturgical elements, but every so often I find a term that is not included. Despite this, the book remains perhaps the most comprehensive single-volume dictionary available for Episcopalians and other Anglican types.

In addition to the more dictionary-definition types of entries, there are brief article-style entries on major concepts and theological issues. These are often not of concern to Episcopalians alone (terms such as 'baptism' and 'salvation' are included as entries), but these are set in a more Anglicanised context. There are also brief biographical entries on major figures in Episcopal history, broader Anglican history, and yet broader Christian history that ties in more closely with the Anglican heritage (this includes a good number of saints from the early church).

Because of its encyclopedic quality, it is very readable and holds the attention well. Although the entries aren't directly cross-referenced, they do lead well into one another, and invariably I find that whenever I am looking up a term, person or thing, I spend a great deal of time reading and skimming, learning yet more that I didn't know before.

So, if you want to be certain of being able to tell your apse from your Elohim, this just might be the book for you. It is a valuable reference tool for any Anglican or Episcopalian, and I find new things in the book each time I open it.

I found this to be a great reference book, with well written articles across a broad variety of topics on the Episcopal Church and Christianity in general. Ive already given away my first copy, and I can't wait to get more copies.

This is quite a good bookfull of explanations of why the priest wears purple in Lent and green in July and other liturgical facts and fancies. A tour de force for Episcopalians. We thrive on this sort of stuff.

Excellent resource for those interested in learning more about the history, theology and present practices in the Episcopal Church. A must for all Episcopal priests, seminarians and anyone wanting to have in-depth understanding of liturgical practicdes.