Helpful terms:

For terms relating to the vestments see the page UNDERSTANDING VESTMENTS

• Altar - a stone or wooden structure which forms the focal point of a Roman Catholic Mass
• Chalice - a vessel usually made of silver or gold used to hold the consecrated wine, theologically the blood of Christ, during a Roman Catholic Mass
• Consecrated - the process by which an artefact or building is dedicated to a sacred purpose.
• Convent - a community of religious sisters.
• French Revolution - a social and political upheaval in France from 1789 which destabilized the established social order.
• Jesuit - a priest who is part of the Society of Jesus, a religious order within the Roman Catholic Church. Formed in 1540 by St Ignatius Loyola, a Jesuit priest is noted by the letters 'SJ' after his name
• Medieval - a period of time roughly lasting from the 5th to the 15th century
• Orphrey - the band of embroidery on the front and back of vestments
• Paten - a small plate upon which bread is consecrated during a Roman Catholic Mass. It is usually made from precious metals to match the chalice
• Prince Bishop of Durham - from the 10th century until 1836, the Bishop of Durham was also granted powers of civil authority from the Crown over the County Palatine of Durham
• Recusant - from the Latin recusare 'to refuse' the word is used to describe English Catholics who refused to attend services in the established church
• Reformation - a 16th century movement in Western Christianity which posed a religious and political challenge to the Roman Catholic Church
• Secular Priest - a Roman Catholic priest who is not part of a religious order
• Seminary - an establishment for training Roman Catholic priests