Readers
The ministry of a Reader (sometimes called ‘Lay Reader’) was revived in the Church of England in the nineteenth century, and it continues to be a valued and significant ministry in the Church in Wales.
Readers are licensed by the Bishop, and operate under his authority. He appoints a Warden of Readers, currently Revd. Geoffrey Marshall, Dean of Brecon. Men and women can be Readers, and their main area of ministry is leading worship and preaching. The ideal is that a close working relationship develops between parish clergy and Readers so that their ministries are visibly complementary and mutually appreciated.
The first step to becoming a Reader is to talk it over with your parish priest, or with the Area Dean (formerly ‘Rural Dean’) if you don’t have an incumbent. You may find it helpful to have an informal conversation with a licensed Reader to discover how they view their ministry – what’s enjoyable, and what they find challenging.
The next step is to complete a Reader training application form. This includes a section to be completed by your parish priest (or Area Dean), which is why it is important to have their encouragement first. Your church’s PCC (Parochial Church Council) should also be supportive.
Once the completed application form has been sent to the Warden of Readers the references you provided will be taken up and an informal interview arranged, usually in Swansea or in Brecon depending on the part of the Diocese in which you live. The interviewers would normally include an Archdeacon, the warden of Readers and up to two experienced Readers. This may sound daunting, but it really isn’t! The interview lasts about fifteen minutes and explores the applicant’s sense of vocation, their experience of Anglican worship and appreciation of it, their willingness to work collaboratively as part of a ministry team, and issues relating to the boundaries of what Readers are licensed to do.
Following the interview a recommendation is made by the Warden to the Bishop about whether the applicant should proceed to start training.
Formal training is currently provided by St Michael’s College, Llandaff, and it lasts two years. It is quite demanding of time and travel, but people gain a lot from it. Courses begin with a compulsory Induction Weekend, usually in September, and continue with once a week seminars or lectures in the College during term-time. There are also essays to be produced and Sunday placements in which to experience hands-on learning. Often the Sunday placement is in the trainee Reader’s home church, if the incumbent is willing. The course is not wholly about stuffing your head with knowledge, however. Learning as part of a community is also important (hence the Induction Weekend plus weekly sessions) as is developing the ability to reflect on experience, on the Church and the world.
Usually after the completion of training there is a final interview, similar to the first one, to see how the training has helped the applicant, how they have developed as a result, and to gain feedback for the improvement of training. The new Reader is then admitted and licensed by the Bishop at Brecon Cathedral during a service of Evensong which follows the AGM of our Diocesan Readers Association (DRA).
Throughout the time that someone is thinking about Reader ministry, making an application, or going through initial training or ministering after being licensed, the Warden of Readers is available to give help and support and to answer any questions. The Secretary to the DRA, currently Mr. Bill Mort of Bishopston, is another helpful contact.