Edited by G. W. Davies. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1986, 544 pp. $29.95.
Because this dictionary of liturgy and worship is published by Westminster Press, one might expect it to have a Presbyterian orientation (which would hardly account for its 544 double-columned pages). However, for a more accurate perception of the tenor of the book, one would do better to associate Westminster with the abbey and the Anglican church, for it is out of that basic context that a large number of the articles are written.
The above observation is made to clarify expectations, not to denigrate the quality of this reference work. Low-church Protestants like myself will find here wonders never previously dreamed of: aumbry, baldachin, Christingle, dalmatic, enarxis, ferial, and so on. I don't mean to imply that this is a book filled with arcane information. The bulk of the volume focuses on such basic questions as architectural setting (virtually a book in itself), baptism, confirmation, and deacons.
But I did notice some strange omissions—like any reference to the salutation (perhaps it's listed under a name of which I've not heard). I also discovered some strange juxtapositions: for example, a competent but short article on Reformed worship by W. D. Maxwell and an article of equal length on Rastafarian worship by Leo Witvliet. So while this dictionary of liturgy and worship will make a useful addition to my reference works, concerning many Reformed issues I shall be left to search elsewhere.