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abode: house or home

alms: offerings or donations intended for the poor

bedchamber: bedroom

Banns of Marriage: official publication of the intent of two people to be married in the Church

Bible (or Holy Bible): book containing the teachings of the Christian
churches of the world, used in the Anglican religion

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Book of Common Prayer: a prayer book used by the Anglican Church

Boxing Day: an English holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas, also known as Saint Stephen’s Day.

Burgesses: an elected member of the colonial legislature of Virginia

catechism: teachings or lessons of the church

Church of England: state church of England, original name for the church we call the Anglican Church today

Councilmen: a member of the governing body of a town or city

Courting: to spend time together with the idea of picking a marriage partner

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dour: hard, stern, severe

dreary: gloomy or depressing

Evensong: evening prayers

gown: dress

Holy Communion: a church ritual or ceremony which includes bread and wine which are blessed and eaten as a symbol of the body and blood of Jesus Christ

housewifery skills: domestic skills pertaining to the running of a household

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hymns: songs in praise or honor of God

matins: morning prayers

noontide: noon time

Parish: a church district in Colonial times with its own church, clergy and vestrymen (leaders who manage the non spiritual affairs of the church)

Pulpit: raised platform or high stand from which a clergyman preaches in
a church

recitations: words or verses said aloud

Royal Governor: highest ranking government and church official in the Virginia colony

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Sacrament of Baptism: a holy ceremony admitting a person into the Christian church

Saint Stephen’s Day: a church holy day, the day after Christmas, Dec. 26th  

sampler: a cloth embroidered with designs, mottos, etc. in different stitches to show sewing skills

School of Manners: rules for proper behavior in church

tarry: to be tardy, delay or linger

toll: to ring, as in church bells

The Articles of Thy Belief: prayers from the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church

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The Lord’s Prayer: prayer found in the Bible, used in most Christian churches

The Lord’s Supper: The Sacrament of Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist.

The Magnificat: Mary’s prayer of thanksgiving from the Gospel of St. Luke in the Bible

The Ten Commandments: basic rules or teachings of the Christian church

tithes: taxes required to be paid to the church for the government and church

toilet: the dressing of one’s body, grooming of oneself, dressing of one’s hair

vespers: regular prayers said in the evening