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Titles
GENERAL STYLES
1. Use caps with, eg, the Church of England, the Roman
Catholic Church, the United Reformed Church, the Methodist Church, the
Church Army. Also cap the Church in context of the
institution (but not adjectivally, as in “the vicar accused church
authorities yesterday...”). For individual churches, write, eg, St James's
Church, Bighampton, or simply St James's, Bighampton.
2. Note that the Church of Ireland, the Church
in Wales (NB in) and the Scottish Episcopal Church
are Anglican but disestablished, while the Church of Scotland
is Presbyterian but established.
3. The General Synod, cap at first mention, thereafter
the synod (l/c). It has three Houses: of Bishops, Clergy and Laity.
4. The Church Commissioners (cap first mention, then
the commissioners l/c) have three chief officers, the First (Second, Third)
Church Estates Commissioner.
5. The Queen is Supreme Governor of the Church of England,
NOT head of the Church of England.
6. Persons of the Trinity take the cap pronoun,
eg, God is He; Jesus's teachings, His example.
7. Use the cap for the Bible (but not for biblical),
the Annunciation, the Apostles, the Assumption, the (Ten)
Commandment, the Cross, the Crucifixion,
the Resurrection, the Disciples, the Gospels,
the Scriptures, Holy Scripture, (Requiem) Mass, (Holy) Communion,
Eucharist, Blessed Sacrament etc.
8. Use l/c for ordination, baptism, confirmation, last rites,
psalms (but the Book of Psalms). Also l/c matins, evensong.
9. Always say Roman Catholic at first mention;
thereafter Catholic is acceptable.
10. The Pope: not usually necessary to give his full
name, eg, Pope John Paul II (unless several popes are mentioned in a story),
but always cap when used specifically. Note papacy, pontiff
(l/c).
11. Use cap for Nonconformist and Free Churches.
Note that the United Reformed Church is composed of the
former Congregational Church and the Presbyterian Church of England; but
some “Congregational” congregations remain outside the reformed group.
12. In Scotland, distinguish the Free Church
of Scotland (the “Wee Frees”) from the established Church
of Scotland and also from the Presbyterian Church of
Scotland. Note the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church
of Scotland (not Moderator of the Church of Scotland).
13. Never ever write the Rev Brown or (even worse) Rev Brown. This
would be among the worst solecisms for The Times to commit. The
correct style is the Rev Joseph Brown, thereafter Mr Brown.
14. The Archbishop of Canterbury is Primate of All
England; the Archbishop of York is Primate of England.
15. Anglican bishops are consecrated, Roman
Catholic bishops ordained.
16. In the United States, Scotland and elsewhere, Episcopal(ian)
means Anglican.
17. churchgoer (one word).
18. Vicar must not be used as a generic word for
priest, parson, clergyman etc. Vicar means specifically the incumbent of a
parish (unless a rector). If in doubt, clergyman is usually a safer
term.
19. Names of hymns go in italics.
20. Biblical references are written thus: II
Corinthians ii, 2; Luke iv, 5.
21. The Bible is always cap and roman, but biblical
is l/c. Books of the Bible also caps and roman, eg, Book of
Job, as is the Koran, the Talmud.
22. Cap Diocese in specifics, such as the Diocese of
Chichester, Guildford Diocese, but l/c in general use, and l/c diocesan
23. evangelical(s) keep l/c in general church contexts
except when part of an official title such as the Evangelical Alliance
24. Latin Mass must not be used as a synonym for the
older Tridentine rite
25. suffragan lower case.
TITLES
1. Senior clergy, Anglicans: by convention, the names
of bishops and archbishops always follow the title of their
office, eg, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey; the Archbishop of
Barchester, the Most Rev John Smith; or (for diocesan bishops), the Bishop
of Barchester, the Right Rev John Smith. Use Dr when appropriate, though not
all high ecclesiastics have doctorates; eg, the Bishop of Lowchester, Dr
John Smith; subsequent references, the Archbishop (Bishop), or Dr Smith (if
so entitled) - never Mr Smith.
Below archbishops and bishops, similar styles prevail: for archdeacons,
the Archdeacon of Barchester, the Ven John Smith (thereafter Mr Smith, or,
more commonly, Canon Smith); for cathedral deans and provosts,
the Dean of Barchester, the Very Rev John Smith (Dean Smith); rural
deans are just the Rev John Smith (Mr Smith); canons and
prebendaries are Canon/Prebendary John Smith, thereafter Canon
Smith.
2. Senior clergy, Roman Catholic: archbishops, at
first mention, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Rev
Patrick Kelly; subsequent mentions Archbishop Kelly or the Archbishop; bishops,
first mention the Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Rev
Christopher Budd, thereafter Bishop Budd or the Bishop; very few Catholic
archbishops or bishops have doctorates, but if we are sure a certain one
has, he can be called Dr Budd.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal X: no need to say
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, but note Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Westminster. Subsequent mentions, Cardinal X or the Cardinal.
Monsignor (Mgr abbreviated) can now be used for Roman
Catholic archbishops or bishops in Britain (where appropriate), as well as
in foreign contexts.
3. Junior clergy: Christian priests, deacons,
ministers, rectors, vicars of all denominations except Roman Catholic or
Orthodox should be, eg, the Rev Frank Faith at first mention,
thereafter Mr Faith (see General Styles, para 13). For women clergy,
write the Rev Joan Faith, thereafter Mrs Faith or Miss Faith.
Roman Catholic and Orthodox clergy should be Father Justin
Hope at first mention (avoid the ugly Fr abbreviation), thereafter Father
Hope (Catholic), but Father Justin (Orthodox). Also use Father with
Benedictines, eg, Father Goode, not Dom Goode.
For nuns, use Sister Charity, Mother Charity, Mother Teresa.
Jesuits take designation SJ on first mention, eg, “the Rev
Albert Leader, SJ, said yesterday ...”
4. Foreign prelates: in Ireland, Africa, North America
etc, say Anglican Bishop of ..., Roman Catholic Bishop of ...; but in
countries where, for example, Roman Catholicism is the overwhelming faith,
the denomination may be superfluous (eg, the Archbishop of Warsaw ...) or
supplied by context.
5. In South Africa, the Anglican Church is called the
Church of the Province of Southern Africa (or Church of the Province, or the
Anglican Church). The Church of England is a separate entity, which split
from the Anglican Communion in the late 19th century. The Church of the
Province has a more Roman Catholic or High Church flavour than most Anglican
churches in England, as seen in the dress of bishops, wider use of incense
and Stations of the Cross in churches, etc.
