The Parish Church of St James
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St. James's Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1DQ (Parish Office 020 8941 6003)
 
GLOSSARY - P

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Word Meaning Further Information

Palm Sunday

The first day of Holy Week, the day that Christians remember the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
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Parish
From Greek 'a district'. Some churches divide counties into large areas called dioceses. Each diocese is divided into smaller parishes. Every parish is supposed to have a church in it for the people of that area.
In context
Parochial Church Council
An executive committee of the parish with powers and duties defined by certain Acts of Parliament. The membership consists of the clergy and churchwardens of the parish, together with a number of representatives of the laity elected by the annual parochial church meeting of the parish.
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Pastor
From Latin: 'shepherd'. Used in some churches as the name for the minister who looks after a congregation.
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Pastoral
Caring for the spiritual or practical needs of others.
 
Paschal candle
The candle that is lit as part of the Easter celebrations on Holy Saturday to overcome the darkness of death.
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Passion Sunday
The fifth Sunday in Lent, and on which Christ's suffering is contemplated.
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Paten
A paten, or diskos, is the small circular plate that holds the Communion bread, or hosts. It is used with a chalice and can be made silver or gold. The reserved hosts are stored in a ciborium.
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Penance
The act of repentance, or something done to show sorrow for sins.
 
Pentecost
(Or Whitsun) The seventh Sunday after Easter. The festival when the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Often thought of as the birth of the church.
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Pew
Originally, Christians stood for worship. The pew originated in medieval times and is a long, backed bench where people sit.
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Planned Giving
Fundraising that refers to gifts of cash. Planned gifts are referred to as such because they require more planning than an outright gift. Planned gifts involve an arrangement between a tax-paying donor and the church.
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Prayer
Talking to God.
 
Prayer Book
A book containing prayers to be used during different church services. The first prayer book in English was brought in at the Reformation to set a pattern of worship in the Church of England. There are several different forms of prayer book. References to 'The Prayer Book' in the Church of England are usually to the 1662 prayer book, and this is still in use, but several other forms in modern English are more common nowadays.
 
Prebendary
An honorary canon, the holder of a prebendal stall which is a seat, usually in the back row of the choir stalls.
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Presbyter
Another name for a priest
 
Presbytery
The sanctuary, or eastern part of the chancel beyond the choir
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Priest
An ordained member of the clergy empowered to celebrate the Eucharist and to pronounce the absolution of sins (second in line of ordained seniority: bishop, priest, deacon)
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Primate
The title given to the archbishop of a province.
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Province A group of dioceses headed by an archbishop. Parish of St James
Pulpit
A raised structure, usually enclosed, from which the sermon is preached.
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Pyx
A vessel used to contain the consecrated bread of the sacrament.
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