Ship of Fools: Reverend?

Thread: Reverend? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Up In Smoke (# 10971) on :

As an avid American viewer of British TV dramas, I've noticed in several recent series that characters who are clearly Anglican clerics are addressed by other characters as "Reverend," as in, "Excuse me, Reverend, but where were you on the night of the murder?" Is this merely some usage convention among TV writers, or is "Reverend" actually used when addressing Anglican clergy? I had thought that Father or Mister (when addressing male clergy) was more usual. Can someone enlighten this American Episcopalian? Some "correct" folks in these parts tend to tut-tut such usage.

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :

"Rev.", "Vicar" (whether technically one or not), "Padré" even (especially if from a military background). "Father" relatively rare; only used IME of Anglo-Catholic types by those in the know. "Mister" might carry implications of not particularly respecting the office.

Again, IME.

Posted by Augustine the Aleut (# 1472) on :

While incorrect, it is common to the point of universal in North America. It was rare in Ireland when I lived there (Mr or Fr being preferred, depending on whether or not one was addressing non-RC or RC clerics) but that might have changed under the influence of US television.

Posted by Olaf (# 11804) on :

Whenever I have seen Reverend used this way, it has been a situation in which one does not know how to address the individual in question. The word serves as a generic catch-all. I can't think of any clergy of my acquaintance who go by this.

Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :

Very, very common in Australia now, even if technically incorrect. It's just a given now.

Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :

I grew up low church, it was "Mister" Last Name.

Now mostly I hear "Father" (or Mother) First Name in the local medium-high liberal church (one bell, no smells, some clergy prayers chanted). Or, equally often, just First Name, no title.

Posted by Arethosemyfeet (# 17047) on :

My dad was always Father Firstname in church and at school. I think outside the church they tended to opt for Reverend Lastname. In the rural villages "Vicar" was more common, though he was rector there and Vicar in town.

Posted by aig (# 429) on :

Reverend is often used when addressing women clergy in the UK, especially by people asking for money (who would call a male priest 'father'). But people do say 'hello, Vicar' which is friendly, but incorrect when addressing me, because I am a deacon. Only a tiny group of nose bleed high affirming catholic Anglicans call me 'mother' and they are all friends from theological college...

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

Unless you are Dickensian urchin, you would never address anyone to their face as 'Mister'. That's for envelopes and referring to someone in the third person. 'Reverend' is not uncommon here as a form of address by undertakers (who should know better) and others, but what's wrong with 'Sir' or 'Madam'? It's different if you have a pastoral relationship with the minister concerned; then it would probably be Firstname, or Vicar, or Father/Mother, depending on the church or how well you know him or her.

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

Archbishop, Bishop, Archdeacon, Dean, Rector, Vicar, Curate, Reverend, Father.....all acceptable and commonly used terms of address here. But the one I really hate that is used a lot in rural areas (almost exclusively) is 'your reverence'. Hideous term.

Posted by Augustine the Aleut (# 1472) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Angloid:
Unless you are Dickensian urchin, you would never address anyone to their face as 'Mister'.

It's been a long time since I've been called an urchin (I think I was in my scamp days). For some years I worked in a context where Mr was regularly used in certain more formal meetings and with respect to some of the more elevated. In eastern and central Canada, I know it to be regularly used of non-RC clerics when they are not known personally.

@Fletcher Christian-- Your Reverence was often used by older people in Ireland. It was a favoured turn of phrase by beggars and panhandlers in Dublin and one of the most fearful curses one could ever hear was "God bless your reverence" when a man of the cloth passed by a beggar without giving a coin or a few words.

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :

I'm trying to figure out what any of this has to do with worship practices [Confused]

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Spike:
I'm trying to figure out what any of this has to do with worship practices

Just saw this and was wondering the same...

It might just work as a question on the 'Random Liturgical Questions' thread (clergy honourifics have occasionally turned up) but I don't really see it being suitable for an Ecclesiantics thread!

dj_ordinaire, Eccles host

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