Episcopal Glossary

Pall - A stiffened square of linen (or other) white cloth that is placed over the chalice to keep objects from falling into the wine. The term may refer also to the cloth covering the casket or urn during the Burial of the Dead.

(Photo courtesy of Robert Gaspard Co.)

Palm Sunday - The Sunday of the Passion (see BCP, 270-73); the Sunday before Easter. In an Episcopal Church, members of the congregation carry real palms during the service; in some churches, the tradition is that palms from one year are saved, dried and later burned to make the ashes used at the next year's Ash Wednesday service.

Palms - Branches blessed at the Palm Sunday Liturgy and carried by the people in procession.

Parish hall/house - a gathering place for a local congregation separate from the church building.

Parish - the group of people of a certain area who are organized into a local church; sometimes the word also refers to the geographic region around a church. In the South many of the present-day counties were once referred to as parishes [as is still the case in Louisiana]; mostly a reference to the local congregation.

Parson - now rare in Episcopal usage. Any priest or minister; often a reference to low-church or non- Episcopal clergy. Sometimes a term of affection for an older clergyman especially of rural background.

Paschal Candle - A large white candle, which may be decorated with a cross, the year of blessing, A (alpha) and 91 (omega), grains of incense, and other symbols of the resurrection. It is lighted at the beginning of the Great Vigil of Easter and burns for all services during the Fifty Days of Easter. At other times, it may be kept near the Baptismal Font and lighted for Baptisms. It may also be carried in procession at the Burial of the Dead, and placed in its holder near the casket or urn.

Paschal Candlestand - A large wooden or metal stand in which the Paschal candle is placed. The stand rests on the floor, and is of such height that the candle is prominent.

Passion Week - See Holy Week.

Passover - A Jewish festival commemorating the escape of the Jews from Egypt.

Paten - A metal or ceramic plate on which the bread for the Eucharist is placed after it is presented by the server or a member of the congregation.

(Photo courtesy of Robert Gaspard Co.)

Peace, The - also known as Passing the Peace; a ritual in the Episcopal Church in which members of the congregation, including the clergy, greet one another. The priest says, "The Peace of the Lord be always with you." The congregation responds, "And also with you." Immediately after these words people shake hands or speak or sometimes embrace in the church.

PECUSA - initials of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America

Penance -  See Confession of Sin; also BCP, 446-52.

Penitence - See BCP P. 857.

Pension Fund - the Church Pension Fund; the retirement program for clergy and other church workers of the Episcopal Church

Pentecost, Day of - The conclusion of the Fifty Days of Easter and the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.

Pentecost, Season of - The Sundays and Weekdays following the Day of Pentecost and ending on the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent.

Phos Hilaron - See Invitatory; also BCP, 64, 112, & 118.

Piscina - A sink for washing the vessels used at the Eucharist and for reverently disposing of Wine that has been consecrated. The piscina does not drain into a sewer or disposal system, but directly into the ground.

Place of Reservation - The altar or other place apart from the main altar of the church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved on Maundy Thursday for use at the Good Friday Liturgy. Also called Altar of Repose (see Chapter 18; also, Aumbry, Tabernacle).

Post Communion - The Prayer of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion (see BCP, 339, 365-66). There are also proper Post Communion prayers appointed for various occasions.

Prayer - See BCP P. 856.

Prayer Book - a short way of referring to the Book of Common Prayer, the worship book of the Episcopal Church containing services, psalms, prayers, etc.

Prayers of the People - See BCP, 328, 359, and 383ff.

Preface - The first part of The Great Thanksgiving up to the Sanctus. Proper Prefaces are appointed for certain occasions (see BCP, 344-49 or 377-82).

Presiding Bishop - the elected episcopal head of the Episcopal Church in America [PECUSA]; the chief administrator and spiritual head of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church does not refer to its head bishop as an archbishop.

President's Chair - See Sedilia.

Prie-dieu - An individual kneeling bench with shelf.

Priest - a special term for the minister of a Roman Catholic or Episcopal or Orthodox church; originally the term mean someone who performed a sacrifice; later the term referred to those who said Mass; now often synonymous with minister although the older terminology is still familiar in some churches.

Procession - the line of choir, clergy, acolytes, crucifer, torchbearers and others walking into a church to begin a service.

Processional Cross - A metal or wooden cross or crucifix affixed to a pole and carried in processions. See also Lenten Cross.

Proper - The scripture readings and Collect appointed for the day or occasion.

Province - one of the major organizational divisions of the Episcopal Church; a group of dioceses usually under the parliamentary direction of a diocesan bishop who serves as president of the province.

Psalm - A portion from the ancient Jewish hymn book found in Scripture (The Book of Psalms) and in The Book of CommonPrayer (see BCP, 585-808).

Pulpit - a raised platform with railing used for the sermon or homily and from which the Gospel may be read; generally located to one side [usually the right side facing the altar] of the front of the nave, not in the center as in most protestant churches. Also called an Ambo.

Purificator - A linen (or other) white cloth used for cleansing the chalice during the ablutions, or for wiping the chalice during the administration of Communion.

Purple - this color [or some shade of violet] in vestments usually indicates that the wearer is a bishop.

Pyx - A receptacle for reserving the Blessed Sacrament for use in Communion of the Sick.