Episcopal Glossary

Sacrament Lamp - A clear or white container with oil or a candle that burns in front of or near the place where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. This candle is never extinguished when the Sacrament is present. The Sacrament Lamp may also be known as the Sanctuary Lamp or Light. (The light can also be electric).

Sacristan - liturgical assistants who have charge of sacred vessels, vestments, etc.

Sacristy - A room or rooms where the vessels, vestments, and other liturgical objects are kept, and where the celebrant, officiants, and assistants vest before the liturgy.

Sacristy Bell - A bell in the sacristy rung at the entrance of the ministers.

Sanctuary - the portion of a church at the head of the chancel around the altar; the space immediately around the altar. Sometimes used to refer to the whole interior of the church, but this is not the usual Episcopal usage.

Sanctuary Lamp or Light - See Sacrament Lamp.

Sanctus - The acclamation "Holy, holy, holy . . ." sung or said at the conclusion of the Preface of the Great Thanksgiving (BCP, 334, 341, 362ff.).

Sanctus Bell - A bell or set of bells in the sanctuary (or in a tower) that is rung or struck during the sanctus, elevations, and at other times.

School of Theology - the graduate division of the University of the South consisting of the Seminary [residential] and the Extension Program [non-residential].

Sedilia - The chair from which the celebrant presides at the Word of God. In some places, this may be called the President's Chair. It is usually flanked by chairs for the assisting ministers and others.

See - generally Roman Catholic usage referring to the ecclesiastical residence of a bishop; occasionally used by Episcopalians

Seminarian - a student in a seminary; a student in residence in a school of theology.

Seminary - a residential academic program for the study of theology.

Senior Warden - the chairman of the vestry; the lay person who heads the governing board of the local church.

Sequence Hymn - A hymn sung between the Epistle and Gospel (after the Alleluia Verse or Tract) which normally relates to the lessons appointed for the day.

Sermon - A talk, usually based on a Bible text, generally delivered the pulpit, to give religious instruction and encouragement.

Server - One who assists at the altar.

Sewanee Theological Review - the theological journal published by the School of Theology

Sexton - an older English title for the person in charge of the church building [or a special portion of it] and grounds; in America the Sexton is also commonly head of maintenance and custodial services and may perform additional duties such as ringing the church bell.

Shell, Baptismal - The metal or ceramic cup or dish used to pour water during the administration of Holy Baptism.

Sign of the Cross - The tracing on one's forehead, chest and shoulders of the outline of the Cross.

Simple Bow - The inclination of one's head and shoulders as a sign of respect .

"Smells & Bells" - a way of describing a "high" church; a church that frequently uses incense, bells, candles, chimes, vestments all together in worship services.

Solemn Bow - An inclination from the waist as a sign of reverence.

Song of Praise - The hymn or canticle at the beginning of the Eucharist following the Acclamation (see BCP, 324 or 356).

SPCK - Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; one of the oldest missionary organizations of the Anglican Church. SPCK specializes in publications and other media for promoting Christian knowledge. The North American office of SPCK is located in Hamilton Hall at the School of Theology.

Spoon - A utensil used with the boat to place incense on the hot coals in the thurible.

Staff, Pastoral - See Crozier.

Stand - See Missal Stand.

Station - In a solemn procession, a place where a pause is made for a versicle, response, and collect, such as at the creche at Christmas, at the entrance to the church on Palm Sunday (BCP 271-72), or at the Baptismal Font on the Day of Pentecost.

St. Luke's Cross - the distinctive cross and circle given to graduates of the School of Theology. See Crossing.

St. Luke's Journal - the earlier name of the Sewanee Theological Review.

Stations of the Cross - See Way of the Cross.

Steps, Altar - The one or more steps leading up to the altar.

Stole - A long strip of material worn by bishops, priests, and deacons when officiating at the Eucharist or other sacramental functions. The priest wears the stole around the neck and hanging down in front (either crossed or straight) over an alb or surplice. The deacon wears the stole over the left shoulder and crossed under the right arm, again either over an alb or surplice. The stole is of the liturgical color of the day and matches the material of the other vestments (see EucharisticVestments) ; some stoles are decorated with parish, diocesan or school insignia near the lower ends.

(Photo courtesy of Robert Gaspard Co.)

Stripping of the Altars - On Maundy Thursday.

Subdeacon - A role performed in the full ceremonial celebration of the Eucharist. While the deacon sits and stands to the right of the celebrant, the subdeacon sits and stands to the left. When full eucharistic vestments are available, the subdeacon wears a tunicle. In the early days of the Catholic and Anglican Church, the subdeacon was an ordained office (like the deacon), but that is no longer true. The subdeacon is now usually a layperson, probably a licensed layreader and chalice bearer who reads the epistle, carries and holds the Gospel Book,  leads the intercessory prayers, and/or assists the priest or deacon in the setting of the "Eucharistic Table".  (It should be noted that today - the term Subdeacon is a "job description" rather than the designation of a person. Almost anyone can serve as a subdeacon - including a Lay Reader, Licensed Eucharistic Minister, Deacon, or Priest - as needed.)  A powerful mechanism of the church is to have a bishop or priest as celebrant, a deacon as deacon, and a layperson as subdeacon, so that all the orders of ministry are represented around the altar.  Occasionally, the title Subdeacon is given to a Lay Reader or Licensed Eucharistic Minister in a church to indicate that he or she is the "head" Lay Reader or Licensed Eucharistic Minister.

Suffragan - see Bishop, Suffragan.

Sunday of the Passion, The - Palm Sunday.

Surplice - An ample white vestment worn over a cassock or other vestments. It has full sleeves, a round or square yoke (neck), and is at least midcalf in length; somewhat longer and fuller than a cotta.

(Photo courtesy of Robert Gaspard Co.)

Synagogue - A building or place of meeting for Jewish worship and religious instruction.