A lay reader (in some jurisdictions, notably the Church of England, simply Reader) is a layperson authorized by a bishop of the Anglican Church to read some parts of a service of worship. Anglican lay readers are licensed by the bishop to a particular parish or to the diocese at large. In the former case, in some areas, their tenure expires with the resignation of the parish priest. In the Anglican tradition, the role of licensed lay readers, whose prominence varies by region, is similar to that of a Methodist local preacher, and can involve:
Although in many parishes, these duties can be performed by any reasonably competent lay person who has been properly instructed, the key to the Reader's license is that he or she is permitted to do them in the absence of a priest. Licensed Readers are entitled to wear a blue tippet with choir dress.
In the Church of England, the office is known simply as Reader. Readers are the only nationally accredited and canonically governmed lay ministry in the CofE. Their theological training enables them to preach, teach, and lead worship, and they are also able to assist in pastoral, evangelistic and liturgical work.[1][2]
The office of Reader has existed in its present form since 1866, and there are now around ten thousand readers in the Church of England.[2]
