Addressing a letter to a Curate...?

[winnie]

I know someone out there will be able to help me. When I write "Dear..." do I follow this with Curate XXXXXX XXXXXXX or do I write XXXXXXX XXXXXX (Curate)? I am very confused. Thanks in advance...

Er... No ideas at all, I'm afraid, Winnie. I'm sure someone will know though.
How are things going for you? I've been thinking of you over the past few days. We've missed you on Mumsnet.

I'd go for Dear Reverend Smith - if its wrong he won't be offended, but I think its right

P.S. Obviously not Smith unless he is ...

Winnie - it depends on how well you know him. Most clergy favour the more informal first name thing thse days. Even though he's only a curate he's also a Reverend. So either 'Rear Reverend xxxxxx(surname)' or just 'dear xxxx (first name)'. The envelope should be adressed to 'the Reverend xxxxx (surname)' Unless, of course, your a real stickler for these things. He may have a phd in which case he'd be 'The Reverend Doctor .....(surname)'

Oh dear, do I sound like someone out of Jane Austin? As a wife of a theology phd (doctor) who narrowly missed becoming a vicars wife (phew - he changed his mind!) I have dwelt on these things at length!

'Rear Reverend' ??? I think I meant Dear, although rear has a certain je ne sais quoi........

Winnie, hope this helps but not 100% sure it is right...Curates have been ordained but not "priested", so they can be called Revd (or Father if they are both male and High Church, as in our parish), but Curate is sort of like their job title rather than their status, so you don't need to put it directly after their name.
I think I would put on the envelope, however:

Revd Julie Smith,
Curate, St James
Address etc

It was so good to see you post on the Flower Remedies thread this morning, and to hear how well you are all coping.

Winnie,

A curate is a parish priests assistant, and is addressed as Dear Reverend xxxxx. I'm almost certain thats right(as a priests wife I really ought to know!!!) you certainly wouldn't offend anyone by addressing them in that way.
Marina, I was interested to see that you attend a 'high church', whereabouts are you?

Munchie, we attend All Saints' Blackheath, which has an established Anglo-Catholic tradition and attracts Bells and Smells devotees from all around! I was brought up in this tradition and feel comfortable with it, but it's not for everyone I know...
Manna, I loved the Rear Reverend - a bit like a Rear Admiral perhaps?