Clergy are ordained ('consecrated' or set apart for the administration of various religious duties) and so take care of the religious ceremonies, teach or otherwise help in spreading religion's doctrine and practices. They deal with life-cycle events (rites of passage) such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and death. Clergy work both inside and outside the actual church, and can be found working in hospitals, nursing homes, missions, schools, etc. See what the clergy wear on our Clergy Clothes page.

Here at St. James's we have a vicar. In the Church of England, vicar is the ordinary title given to certain parish priests. Read about The Vicar of St. James's Church.

From time to time we also have a curate who is a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to the vicar who is either a priest or a deacon. The word curate comes from the Latin curatus meaning to care for and is a person who is invested with the care of souls in a parish. The duties or office of a curate are sometimes called a curacy (as the office of a president is a presidency). Read about St. James's Curate.

The deacon's role is complementary to that of the priest presiding at the celebration. It is a ministry of word and sacrament. The word Deacon comes from the Greek diakonos meaning servant. The deacon serves the gathered community by reading the Gospel (having carried in the Gospel Book in the entrance procession), preparing the altar, assisting with the distribution of holy communion, and then cleaning the vessels afterwards. S/he also issue certain invitations to the congregation - to confess their sins, to share a sign of peace, to proclaim the mystery of faith. S/he then instructs them to go at the end of the service.

Currently there is an ordinand, David Bell, attached to St. James's. An ordinand is someone who is preparing for, or undergoing the process of, ordination. Read about St. James's Ordinand.

Archbishop Most senior rank of Christian minister in the Anglican Church who is responsible for a group of diocese (Province).
Archdeacon A senior clergyman in a diocese, working to the bishop and responsible for the welfare of clergy and diocesan management issues.
Bishop The second most senior rank of Christian minister in the Anglican Church. Most bishops have an area, called a diocese, which they look after.
Canon A member of clergy on the staff of a cathedral or collegiate church, or a title of honour within a diocese.
Celebrant The priest who officiates at the Eucharist.
Chaplain A Christian minister who does not look after a particular parish church, but whose job is to work with a group of people. For example, many hospitals and some regiments in the army have their own chaplains. In the past some rich families had a chaplain.
Clergy A general term for a body or group of ordained people who are appointed to work in the church. The three types of clergy are deacons, priests and bishops.
Curate An assistant minister in a parish, either a priest or a deacon, occasionally the minister of a parish.
Deacon From the Greek diakonos meaning servant, used to refer to the lowest Order in the Christian ministry, below the priest and bishop. The term is for both men and women who may undertake the tasks assigned to priests except presiding at Holy Communion and hearing confessions.
Dean A senior clergyman of lower rank than a bishop but who is responsible for supervising the buildings and services of a cathedral or other church institution. A cathedral dean is also the senior priest of the diocese.
Incumbent The holder of an ecclesiastical benefice (church position/job).
Minister From Latin 'servant'. It is used in Protestant churches to describe the person appointed to lead worship and to care for the needs of the congregation. Ministry The work of teaching or pastoral care performed by clergy or others in a church.
Ordained A member of one of the three Orders of clergy: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon
Ordination The conveying of spiritual authority by a bishop. The laying on of hands by a bishop to make a deacon, ordain a priest, and consecrate a bishop (at least three bishops are required to ordain a priest as a bishop)
Pastor From Latin: 'shepherd'. Used in some churches as the name for the minister who looks after a congregation.
Prebendary An honorary canon, the holder of a prebendal stall which is a seat, usually in the back row of the choir stalls.
Priest An ordained member of the clergy empowered to celebrate the Eucharist and to pronounce the absolution of sins (second in line of ordained seniority: bishop, priest, deacon)
Primate The title given to the archbishop of a province.
Rector A title given to an incumbent of certain parishes, originally those which retained their titles. Rectory Where a rector lives.
Reverend, The A title of honour for an ordained person.
Vicar The clergyman appointed to act as the priest of a parish. a priest caring for a parish. Vicarage Where a vicar lives.

Historical Background to St. James's Clergy
Here at St. James's we have a vicar. In the Church of England, vicar is the ordinary title given to certain parish priests. Historically, Anglican parish clergymen were divided into rectors, vicars, and perpetual curates. These were distinguished according to the way in which they were remunerated. The church was supported by tithes - taxes levied on the agricultural output of the parish. These were divided into greater tithes levied on wheat, hay and wood, and lesser tithes levied on the remainder. A rector received both greater and lesser tithes, a vicar the lesser tithes only. A perpetual curate received no tithe income and was supported by the diocese. For detailed accounts of St. James's vicars read the pages Previous Vicars at St. James's.

From time to time we also have a curate. For detailed accounts of St. James's curates and ordinands read the page Curates and Ordinands at St. James's Church.