Do you know your Rood Screen from your Narthex? Should we call Bishop Sisk’s family room recliner the Bishop’s Chair? Is a Church Warden synonymous with jailer?

Anyone who’s ever darkened the door of an Episcopal church knows we have our own distinct vocabulary and way of communicating. The following list highlights and defines some terms we regularly toss around on Sunday mornings and in our church communities.

It’s not comprehensive by any means, either in scope or definition, but it’s a start. The list includes things liturgical, ecclesiastical and architectural. It contains National Church jargon and ministries specific to the Episcopal Diocese of New York. You may well have others to add. At The Episcopal New Yorker we felt it was time to peek behind the shroud of mystery and shed light upon some of these terms.

Editor's note: Do you think some of our definitions need tweaking? Are there words we left out that you think should have been included?
Let us know! Email eny@dioceseny.org.