Glossary
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Anglo-Catholics. Anglicans who adhere to many of the liturgical practices, devotions, traditions and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Anglo-Catholics are also known as High Church Anglicans.
B.A. Bachelor of Arts. The undergraduate degree gained after passing final examinations once completing 3 to 4 years at Oxford.
B.D. Bachelor of Divinity. At Oxford, unlike other universities, this is a postgraduate degree.
Chancellor. The ceremonial head of the university appointed by Convocation.
Class. The level of award of a degree, for example, first, second or simply pass.
Collections. Exams at the beginning of the term.
Colleges. The institutions which make up the University. Each has its own governing body, Fellows, and Tutors. The senior office of each college is often referred to as the Head of House.
Common Room. A meeting place for students that was the center of the college life. Fellows had a Senior Common Room.
Conditional Baptism. Baptism in case of doubt as to whether a person has already been validly baptized. The priest baptizes using the words, “If you are not baptized, N., I baptize you …”
Convocation at Oxford. Meeting of the Oxford M.A.s to elect the university officers and vote on proposed measures and the revision of statutes.
Convocation. An assembly or synod of Anglican bishops and representatives of the clergy. Convocation was suspended in England at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
Curate. Clergyman who assists a rector in the spiritual care of a parish. He may have in his charge a curacy, which is a small chapel within a parish.
Dean. Title of the head of some colleges, “for example, the Dean of Christ Church College. Also a Fellow responsible for supervising the conduct of Junior Members of the College.”
Dissenters. The name given in 19th-century England to Christians who were not members of the Anglican Church, such as Puritans and Roman Catholics.
Don. A professor, a lecturer or a Fellow. The name derives from the Latin dominus, meaning master.
Evangelical. The group in the Anglican Church that emphasized piety, biblical teaching, and morality, while minimalizing the role of the hierarchy, Tradition, and doctrine.
Exhibition. A financial grant or award to a student. The student awarded this scholarship is an exhibitioner.
Fellow. An elected member of a college. Fellows are members of the governing body of the college.
Gentleman-Commoner. A student who does not have a scholarship.
Hall. Like a college, a residence for students that has its own teaching staff. Also the dining hall of a college.
Hebdomadal Council. Administrative council of the University.
High Church Anglicans. Another name for Anglo-Catholics or for the party of Anglo-Catholics within the Anglican Church.
Hilary term. Spring term. (See Michaelmas and Trinity.)
Latitudinarian. See Low Church Anglicans.
Living. A benefice or salary and housing for a clergyman.
Long Vacation. Summer holidays.
Low Church Anglicans. Initially a pejorative term for Anglicans who espoused Protestant and Puritan beliefs and practices, in contradistinction to High Church Anglicans. “Low Church” is synonymous with “Broad Church” and “Latitudinarian” because these Anglicans provided much latitude in church doctrine and discipline.
M.A. Master of Arts. A degree obtained after 21 terms (7 years) as a Fellow.
Master. Another name for the principal of a college. For example, the Master at Balliol College or Pembroke College.
Michaelmas term. Autumn term. (See Hilary and Trinity.)
Non-Conformists. Another name for Dissenters from the Established Anglican Church.
Oriel. The fifth oldest college, founded at Oxford in the early fourteenth century. Newman was a Fellow and Tutor at Oriel.
President. Another name for principal of a college. For example, the President at Corpus Christi College.
Proctors. Two proctors (senior and junior proctors), university officers, elected each year by colleges in rotation to serve for one year. They ensure the statutes, regulations and customs are observed.
Provost. Head of a college, for example, Provost of Oriel.
Rector. Head of a college, for example, Rector of Lincoln College, or the head of an Anglican parish.
Thirty-Nine Articles. The statements defining Anglican doctrine established in 1563 by a Convocation of the Church of England.
Trinity term. Summer term. (See Hilary and Michaelmas.) Trinity is the name of a college founded in the sixteenth century. Newman did his undergraduate studies at Trinity College.
Tutor. A college Fellow assigned students on an individual basis and serves as both a teacher and academic guide. Tuition is the teaching provided at the college.
Vicar. A clergyman who works at a parish. A vicar was often called a curate from the Latin word cura, meaning spiritual charge.
Vice-Chancellor. The senior officer of the University.