Catholic and Anglican Titles ⛪
Catholic and Anglican Titles ⛪ Church Clergy Ranks Compared
List lovers list of clerical Catholic and Anglican titles shows the approximate equivalents and church hierarchy across both churches. We compare church titles positions beween the Church of England hierarchy with the Catholic Church ranks order for an overview of clergy ranks. We explain the various clerical titles and, where the names for members of the church clergy are derived from, along with the “church rankings” for both churches.
- Catholic and Anglican titles list was last updated 16 Sep 2024
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| Church Titles | Ecclesiastical Abbreviations | Etymology | Role in Roman Catholic Church ✝️ | Role in Anglican Church ⛪ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approximate ranking: | God, the Pope, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and deacons. Catholic church titles positions. |
Jesus Christ is the head of the Anglican church. The ruling monarch (currently King Charles III) is the supreme governor. Then follow the archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishops of Wales and York, bishops, archdeacons, deacons, priests, deans, canons (or prebendary), vicars, rectors, chaplains and curates. | ||
| Archbishop | Abp., Archiep., Archiepus. | Head bishop. Office occupied mainly by a bishop in charge of metropolitan and some titular sees. | An Archbishop is a head bishop. There are three archbishops:
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| Archdeacon | Archid. | Formerly a senior official who assisted the bishop in non-spiritual matters (like an Executive Assistant). The role is nowadays performed by qualified laypersons or vicars, deans, etc. | Archdeacons are senior clergy who assist the bishop with administration matters. For example, responsibility for (church) buildings, welfare issues etc. Archdeacons are often seen as the extended “eyes and ears” of the bishop. | |
| Bishop | EPS, EP., Episc., Epus. | overseer, elder | A bishop is a sacramental position (baptism, confession, marriage etc.). Bishops are considered successors of the Apostles and teachers of doctrine. The Pope is also a bishop. | A bishop usually supervises several “dioceses” (a province) typically over a large region. A diocese includes groups of congregations and priests. A bishop must first have been a priest. |
| Canon | rule | Members of a cathedral chapter. | Honorary title for clergy or lay persons for long or distinguished services to the church. | |
| Cardinal | hinge, as in “pivotal” | Office occupied by bishops. “Princes of the Church” appointed by the Pope. | There are no cardinals in the Anglican church hierarchy. | |
| Chaplain | cloak | A Chaplin is a clergy member outside of a parish who organizes worship within non-religious organizations, for example in hospitals, schools and the military. The Catholic and Anglican titles are the same. | The Catholic and Anglican titles for a chaplin are the same. A chaplin is a clergy member outside of a parish who organizes worship within non-religious organizations, for example in hospitals, schools and the military. | |
| Curate | C.C. | cure or care of souls | A curate is a senior priest within a parish. | Curate is an administrative position. A deacon or priest who assists a parish Incumbent. |
| Deacon | servant | A deacon is a sacramental position (baptism, confession, marriage etc.) to assist the pastor with teaching, parish work and counseling. Deacons can be either:
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A deacon proclaims the Gospel and assists at Holy Communion. | |
| Dean | Dec | head of ten | Dean is a title given to senior pastors without diocesal authority. A Dean often mentors and leads local pastors. | A dean is a senior vicar in charge of a cathedral and the most senior priest of a diocese (dener) under the bishop. |
| Father | Pr. | Father is a form of address for some clergymen wishing to identify themselves as members of the Catholic church. Used only by invitation. | – | |
| Incumbent | lie down | – | Term for responsible clergy member in a parish or congregation. More commonly termed “rector”. | |
| Minister | servant | A minister is a person (not a rank) who performs acts for the Church. Also used to denote various clergy roles; priests, bishops etc. | A minister is authorised to perform religious functions. | |
| Monsignor | Mgr., Msgr., Mons. | my lord | Monsignor is an honorary title and office held by priests. Conferred by the Pope on priests who are adopted into the papal household. | There are no Monsignors in the Anglican church hierarchy. |
| Parson | person (in charge of a church) | There are no parsons in the Catholic church hierarchy. | A parson can be any clergy member. Historically a parson is a salaried priest with a parish. | |
| Pastor | Pr. | shepherd, feeder | A pastor is a priest who has been entrusted with a parish by a bishop. | A pastor is the spiritual leader of a congregation. Unofficially used for “Rector” or “Incumbent”. In UK “minister” is also used. |
| Pope | PP. | father | The pope is a special bishop who has power to make binding decisions for all Catholics. It’s a sacramental position to a degree. Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff. The pope is viewed as the successor of St Peter (chief of the Apostles) and head of the College of Bishops. | There is no pope in the Anglican church hierarchy. |
| Presiding Bishop | – | An Anglican presiding bishop usually presides over a large region or nation. In the USA a presiding bishop is equivalent to a Catholic Primate. | ||
| Priest | Pbr., Presbit., PRB. | church elder | A Catholic priest is a sacramental position (baptism, confession, marriage etc.). Catholic priests are ordained men who consecrate and offer the body and blood of Christ in the Mass and mediates between people and God. | An Anglican priest is someone who stands in place of Christ, e.g. a vicar, but who offers a sacrifice (the Eucharist or body of Christ). A priest can absolve a person from sin. An Anglican priest must previously have been a deacon. |
| Primate | chief | In the Catholic church ranks a primate is usually a title for first or oldest bishop in country. | In the Anglican church a primate is a bishop presiding over the church in a large region or nation. In the USA a presiding bishop is equivalent to a Catholic Primate. | |
| Rector | P.R. (“Permanent Rector”), M.R. (“Missionary Rector”) | put straight | A rector is a person presiding over an ecclesiastical institution. | Historically the title of rector within the Anglican church is essentially the same as a vicar; i.e. a priest with primary administrative and pastoral duties in a congregation. |
| Reverend | Rt. Rev. (Right Reverend) | respect | Reverend is one of the Catholic and Anglican titles which is a general term of address for clergymen in both the Catholic and Anglican church. For example The Reverend Deacon, The Reverend Canon etc. | Reverend is a general term of address for clergymen in both the Anglican and Catholic church. For example The Reverend Deacon, The Reverend Canon etc. |
| Vicar | Vic. | substitute, vicarious | A vicar is a representative of any ecclesiastic entity. | A vicar, like a priest, is someone who stands in place of Christ. The exact role varies by church and location:
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See also: 66 Books of the Bible… | Christianity in Numbers…
FAQs About Differences Between Catholic & Anglican Churches.
FAQs About Differences & Similarities Between Catholic and Anglican Churches
- What’s the difference between the Anglican and Catholic church?
The short answer is not that much! Both derive from 2000 year-old Christian roots founded by Jesus Christ in Judea. Although “Anglican” means “of England”, the Anglican church has spread worldwide through English colonization and missionaries. - Why Did the English Church Split From the Church of Rome?
The Anglican church has its roots in the 6th century in England, when St. Augustine was sent to Britain to discipline Celtic Christians. There was constant conflict between the church and the state after then. For example, the murder of Thomas a Becket, and the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 by King John, that declared the English church to be independent of its government. Matters came to a head during Henry VIII’s reign when his general frustration at interference from Rome turned to anger after the pope refused Henry VIII permission to divorce Catherine of Aragon, and he finally split the English church entirely from the Roman church leading to the divergence between Catholic and Anglican titles.
The longer answer on the differences includes numerous issues regarding the church hierarchy, celibacy, rituals, bell ringing, bread and wine are way beyond the scope of this introduction. - Are Anglicans Protestants?
Yes and no! Today, the term Protestant denotes any Christians who are not subject to papal authority, so in that sense Anglicans are Protestants. However it would be more accurate to describe Anglicans as “Catholics without the Pope”, i.e. non “Roman” because they have many more differences when compared to the classic Lutheran Protestantism of German origin.
Anglican and Catholic Church Hierarchy Pyramid
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- Help improve List Lovers list of Catholic and Anglican titles and church rankings by adding your comments below…
What are the churchgoers called?
Hi Nathan, good question with no simple answer. Here’s the best explanation we’ve found so far: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/87093/parishioner-vs-congregant
In the hierachy of the Anglican church what is a cathecist?
Hi Solly, we understand a cathecist is a teacher who teaches orally from an approved Catechism book of beliefs for their religion. The Anglican Catechism is “primarily intended for use by parish priests, deacons and lay catechists“.
What are the duties of a Lay Reader and a Head of Laity in the church?
Thanks for your comment John, we’ll do some research and get back to you.