What’s the difference between a Deacon and a Priest?

Part of a sermon series during Lent where the clergy will be answering questions from the congregation about the church’s worship

During the season of Lent, the clergy at Holy Trinity Church are attempting to answer question from the congregation. People have been invited to submit questions about Church order, services and traditions. My question topic for today is jobs and job titles within the Church of England.

Fr Godfrey is the team vicar for Holy Trinity and, along with Rev Ray of Christ Church, represents Haven Church parish, within the deanery of Gosport. They attend regular chapter meetings, led by the area dean, Rev Paul Chamberlain of Lee-on-Solent. They, in turn, are answerable to the Archdeacon, who came here as a guest last week, and then to Bishop Jonathan, the Bishop of the Diocese of Portsmouth. Fr John, Fr Mike, and I, all have ‘PTO’ from the Bishop, so are really answerable only to him. Fr John and Fr Mike are also Honorary Canons of Portsmouth Cathedral but I am not. Why?

Well, that’s all clear then isn’t it…?

…Of course not! We bandy names and job titles around with freedom and assume everyone follows. Which they may well not, but are afraid to ask, as they assume everyone else does. After all, what is the difference between a Rural Dean, Area Dean and a Cathedral Dean? Is an Archdeacon merely a senior Deacon? And are they more important than a bishop? And where does a cathedral dean fit into the mixture?

I’ve now got only five minutes to unravel all this if I’m not to exceed 7 1/2 minutes!

To begin at the start of ministry. The three ranks of clergy are: deacon, priest and bishop.

Most, though not all, clergy have a year as a deacon (‘L’ plates!) and this is very much a servant role, helping at the Eucharist but not celebrating, blessing or forgiving.

Ordination to the Priesthood then follows (although priests don’t stop being deacons as well – think jumper over a shirt). This is the permission to celebrate the Eucharist, bless the people and absolve them of their sins (ABC of priesthood).

A very few priests are then consecrated Bishop. They are still deacons and priests – think jacket over shirt and jumper – and they will take confirmation and ordination services when not sitting on committees.

For the vast majority of clergy they remain priests. This can mean a variety of placements but all have at their heart the spiritual welfare and pastoral support of the people in their charge. We have hospital, forces and prison chaplains who work there rather than a parish.

Here at Holy Trinity we are Anglo-Catholic (smells and bells, incense etc.), so we clergy are referred to as ‘Father’ or ‘Mother’.

Before their retirement, Fr John was Rector of Rowner and Fr Mike Vicar of Waterlooville. The terms Rector and Vicar both mean someone who is paid by the Church of England to run a parish. By and large, though you will I’m sure know exceptions to this, Rector refers to a parish church founded before 1500, and Vicar to one founded later.

Fr Godfrey is the Team Vicar appointed by the bishop to have authority over the life and witness of the Holy Trinity parish. He works alongside the Rev Ray (who is not an Anglo-Catholic and not called Father), who works from Christ Church and Saint Johns’ parishes to form Haven Church. A parish is a physical area you can find on a map. Several parishes get together to become the Gosport deanery where one clergy is chosen as the Area Dean. This pattern is followed all over the country. There is no inch of land in the UK that is not part of a parish/deanery etc.

Here, four Deaneries combine to form the Archdeaconry of the Meon, headed at the moment by Kathryn, our Archdeacon. Three Archdeaconries combine to become the Diocese of Portsmouth, which is where Bishop Jonathan comes in as the spiritual leader.

All clergy have to retire from active ministry at age 70. Those who are able, can request a licence from the bishop called ‘Permission to Officiate’ (PTO).

Where do canons fit in? Fr John and Fr Mike are both honorary canons of Portsmouth Cathedral appointed in recognition of work done for the diocese. This gives them a special seat in the cathedral for important services. Other canons are appointed to specific duties within the cathedral administration. They all work for the Dean, the CEO of the cathedral, who is answerable only to the bishop.

If you are still confused by the way the Church of England is organised, rest assured that your pastoral care and spiritual welfare are of the utmost importance to your clergy team here at Holy Trinity. We are here for you. You only have to ask!