A question...

[dreamflower]

For any Anglicans on my flist:

What exactly *is* the difference between a vicar, a curate and a rector? The online dictionary I looked in gave me identical definitions, but I was sure there's a difference...

Comments

[mumstheword54.livejournal.com]

I'm not Anglican/Episcopalian, but I did work in an ECUSA church for 3+ years -- and frankly, I never did get a straight answer to that same question.

BUT

Here's what I've found in a dictionary on the ECUSA's website:

Curate. The term typically refers to an assisting priest in a parish.

and

Priest. Derived from Greek presbyteros, "elder." The ministry of a priest is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to share with the bishop in overseeing the church; to proclaim the gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and pardon in the name of God. (BCP p. 856) The term presbyter is preferred by some.

Priest, related terms:

Local Trained Priest. These priests have received theological formation and education primarily through their dioceses rather than at a seminary. They may serve in non-stipendiary congregational ministries, sometimes as part of a team.

Priest-in-Charge. Practices vary widely among dioceses. In a parish without a rector, the priest-in-charge generally contracts with the vestry, in consultation with the bishop, to perform many of the functions of a rector.

Rector. Elected by the vestry of a parish in consultation with the bishop, and serves as the leader of the parish with respect to its spiritual life and mission. In charge of liturgy, music, education, outreach, and pastoral care, the rector has full use of the parish property to carry out his or her office, hires and supervises lay and clerical staff, and is generally entitled to preside at all vestry and parish meetings.

Vicar. The title applies to the priest-in-charge of a mission congregation, serving at the pleasure of and representing the bishop.

Website search results:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1521_29251_ENG_HTM.htm
Toward the bottom of the page, under "Glossary of (selected) EC Terms."

So IF my understanding is correct, curates, vicars, and rectors are all ordained priests.
Vicars and rectors are the pastors of congregations, and a curate is an assistant pastor.
While a rector is elected by a church vestry (elected administrative board of the church), a vicar is appointed by a bishop to serve, especially in very small (mission) churches.

But please don't take my word against an Anglican's! And the terms may be different in British Anglican churches.

*collapses, exhausted*

[dreamflower]

Thanks! This is very helpful!

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

The differences are in the hierarchy, see below, it seems that a rector ranks the highest, then curator, then vicar.

vic·ar
Pronunciation: \ˈvi-kər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin vicarius, from vicarius vicarious
Date: 14th century

1: one serving as a substitute or agent; specifically : an administrative deputy2: an ecclesiastical agent: as a: a Church of England incumbent receiving a stipend but not the tithes of a parish b: a member of the Episcopal clergy or laity who has charge of a mission or chapel c: a member of the clergy who exercises a broad pastoral responsibility as the representative of a prelate
— vic·ar·ship Listen to the pronunciation of vicarship \-ˌship\ noun

Etymology vicar
c.1300, from O.Fr. vicaire, from L. vicarius "substitute, deputy," noun use of adj. vicarius "substituting," from vicis "change, turn, office" (see vicarious). The original notion is of "earthly representative of God or Christ;" but also used in sense of "person acting as parish priest in place of a real parson" (c.1325). The original Vicar of Bray (in fig. use from 1661) seems to have been Simon Allen, who held the benefice from c.1540 to 1588, thus serving from the time of Henry VIII to Elizabeth, and was twice a Catholic and twice a Protestant, but always vicar of Bray. The village is near Maidenhead in Berkshire.

cu·rate
Pronunciation:\ˈkyu̇r-ət also ˈkyu̇r-ˌāt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin curatus, from cura cure of souls, from Latin, care
Date: 14th century


1 : a clergyman in charge of a parish 2 : a clergyman serving as assistant (as to a rector) in a parish

Etymology: curate
c.1340, from M.L. curatus "one responsible for the care (of souls)," from L. curatus, pp. of curare "to take care of." Church of England sense of "paid deputy priest of a parish" first recorded 1557.

Etymology: parson
1197, from Anglo-Fr., O.Fr. persone "curate, parson" (12c.), from M.L. persona "parson" (see person). Ecclesiastical use obscure, may refer to the "person" legally holding church property, or it may be an abbreviation of persona ecclesiae "person of the church." Parsonage "house for a parson" first attested 1472.


rec·tor
Pronunciation: \ˈrek-tər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from regere to direct — more at right
Date: 14th century

1: one that directs : leader2 a: a member of the clergy (as of the Protestant Episcopal Church) in charge of a parish b: an incumbent of a Church of England benefice in full possession of its rights c: a Roman Catholic priest directing a church with no pastor or one whose pastor has other duties3: the head of a university or school
— rec·tor·ate Listen to the pronunciation of rectorate \-t(ə-)rət\ noun
— rec·to·ri·al Listen to the pronunciation of rectorial \rek-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective
— rec·tor·ship Listen to the pronunciation of rectorship \ˈrek-tər-ˌship\ noun

Etymology rector
1387, from L. rector "ruler, governor, guide," from rect-, pp. stem of regere "to rule, guide" (see regal). Used originally of Roman governors and God, by 18c. generally restricted to clergymen and college heads. Rectory first recorded 1448 as "the benefice held by a rector;" of his residence, first recorded 1849.

[dreamflower]

Much better info than I got with *my* Googling--thanks!

[bodkin-ra.livejournal.com]

A curate assisted a vicar - he/she was usually younger and just out of training.

A vicar received a stipend, but not the tithes of the parish.

A rector is, like a vicar, in charge of a parish, but received the tithes.

I doubt there's much difference, beyond tradition, as to vicar/rector now. But a curate is still an assistant.

Tithes no longer exist in the Church of England. As far as I know.

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

But a curate is still an assistant

Normally an ordinand will serve two curacys (curacies?) before being assigned his own vicarage/chaplaincy. That is, he will take two assistant roles lasting a shorter number of years before taking on his own leadership role in a parish. The first curacy will begin while he is ordained to the diaconate but he will continue in these roles after his ordination to the priesthood until he is deemed ready to take on a leadership role of his own.

[dreamflower]

Oh, that's great information! Thank you!

[dreamflower]

Thanks a lot! It does confirm the impression I'd always had that curates were assistants--which was one of the main reasons I needed to ask!

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

I'd like to know that too. Here's a guess. A vicar is the head priest of his parish or church, the rector is the same as principal at a school I suppose. A curate is like a cuator? ;)

[dreamflower]

*grin* Well, you got the first part right! See bodkin_ra and gayalondiel's answers above!

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

Roman Catholic rather than Anglican - but I think Mum's got it right. Curates were assistants for a loooooong time in Roman Catholicism, too, but to the 'parish priest' (who at one time might have several smaller churches he was in charge of, each with its own curate) rather than to a vicar or rector. Vicars and rectors are essentially equal in rank but get that rank from a different authority.

[dreamflower]

Thanks! This confirms it all around for me!

Writing non-LOTR fic is harder than I thought.

[(Anonymous)]

Check out the Wiki entry for 'vicar'. Scroll down past Catholic and Orthodox to the Anglican section. Historically, differences seem to have come down to money. LOL