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Titles
GENERAL STYLES
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 the 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.
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.
The General Synod, cap at first mention, thereafter the synod (l/c). It has
three Houses: of Bishops, Clergy and Laity.
The Church Commissioners (cap first mention, then the commissioners l/c) have
three chief officers, the First (Second, Third) Church Estates Commissioner.
The Queen is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, not head of the Church
of England.
Persons of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, take the cap
pronoun, eg, God is He; Jesus's teachings, His example.
Use cap for Bible noun and adjective (but not for biblical), the Annunciation,
the Apostles, the Assumption, the (Ten) Commandments, the Cross, the
Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Disciples, the Gospels, the Scriptures,
Holy Scripture, (Requiem) Mass, (Holy) Communion, Eucharist, Blessed
Sacrament etc.
Use l/c for ordination, baptism, confirmation, last rites, psalms (but the
Book of Psalms). Also l/c matins, evensong.
Generally always say Roman Catholic at first mention; thereafter Catholic is
acceptable. But note that in the Northern Ireland context, "Roman" is used
pejoratively by some Protestants, so in such circumstances it may be better
to leave the word out to avoid accusations of bias.
The Pope: not usually necessary to give his full name, eg, Pope Benedict XVI
(unless several popes are mentioned in a story), but always cap when used
specifically. Note papacy, pontiff (l/c). Note that Pope Benedict XVI was
formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
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.
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).
Never ever write the Rev Brown or (even worse) Rev Brown. The correct style is
the Rev Joseph Brown, thereafter Mr Brown. Never refer to a member of the
clergy as "a reverend".
The Archbishop of Canterbury is Primate of All England; the Archbishop of York
is Primate of England.
Anglican bishops are consecrated, Roman Catholic bishops ordained.
In the United States, Scotland and elsewhere, Episcopal(ian) means Anglican.
churchgoer (one word).
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.
Names of hymns go in italics.
Biblical references are written thus: II Corinthians ii, 2; Luke iv, 5. A wide
variety of Bible versions and translations is available at Bible Gateway.
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 etc
Cap diocese in specifics, such as the Diocese of Chichester, Guildford
Diocese, but l/c in general use, and l/c diocesan
evangelical(s) l/c except when part of an official title, eg, the Evangelical
Alliance
Latin Mass must not be used as a synonym for the older Tridentine rite
suffragan lower case
Church Times (no The in the title). See newspapers
baptistry prefer to baptistery, crosier prefer to crozier
Note High Church and Low Church (caps), relating respectively to
Anglo-Catholic and evangelical styles of churchmanship in Anglican churches
TITLES
Senior clergy, Anglicans: by convention, the names of bishops and archbishops
always follow the title of their office, eg, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Dr Rowan Williams; 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.
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.
Relatively few Catholic archbishops or bishops have doctorates, but if we are
sure a certain one has, he can be called, eg, Dr Smith.
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. Note that the
Archbishop of Westminster is the leader of Catholics in England and Wales -
not in Britain.
Note also the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
Monsignor (which can be abbreviated in all contexts to Mgr) can be used for
Roman Catholic archbishops or bishops in Britain (where appropriate), as
well as in foreign contexts, and for other individuals who have been given
the title.
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 above). For women clergy,
write the Rev Joan Faith, thereafter Mrs Faith or Ms/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 the designation SJ (Society of Jesus) on first mention, eg, “the
Rev Albert Leader, SJ, said yesterday ...”
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.
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.
Last edited: April 20, 2009
