how to address a Reverend?

[trickydickie]

I have to send an email to a Reverend. I run a group in her church and am passing information on to her via the church office email.

Reverend's name is Jane Bradley. Is it ok to say I was speaking to Jane last Wednesday and am hoping you can pass this info onto her. Or should I say I was speaking to Rev Jane or Rev Bradley.

I am a lapsed Catholic and I just always called the priest Father James (or whatever his name was).

Not sure of the etiquette in another faith. Thanks.

In this situation I'd just refer to her as Jane.

All of the ordained people I know are relaxed enough that first names are fine.

If you want to be formal, then say Rev Jane, but Jane is probably fine for most priests/vicars.

Have a look at this for more information if you're really interested. Strictly speaking ordained ministers in Anglican churches are not referred to as Reverend Jane, it's always Reverend Jane Surname (my dad was a full time vicar and part time pedant )

Thanks. Showing my age then by calling the priest at my local church Father John (not that he will remember as I tend to only go about once every few months!).

So, times have moved on, can only be a good thing.

Thanks everyone. I will go and get on with my email.

I sometimes call ours "Father Mary", but only in jest :o

My sister is a reverend but is always known just by her first name. BIL is just about to be ordained and I think also will just be known by his first name. I suspect it may depend on how formal/high the church is. I'm ex Catholic and so also slightly think that a title should be used, but I think that it might be a part of the Catholic idea of the priest as being an intercessor and so a bit better than ordinary people IYSWIM?.

MaryBS - hopefully the day will come within my lifetime that I can call a priest Father Mary (and be correct).

Think this is where it comes from Nooka.

Well email sent, just addressed the Reverend by her first name, I am sure she will be fine with this.

Thanks again everyone.

You'd only put Rev on the outside of an envelope.

It would be Dear Mr/Miss/Mrs/Dr whatever.

Think of 'Reverend' like 'Doctor'. The reason they have the title is that they have a qualification. When addressing a priest, on the envelope, it should be 'The Rev'd J Bloggs' and the inside as Dear Mr / Mrs / Ms (or whatever) Bloggs.

If the Priest has an additional qualification such as a PHd or been
made a Canon then it would be 'The Rev'd Canon / Dr J Bloggs and the salutation would be Dear Dr / Canon Bloggs.

When referring to them you can say 'I was speaking to the Vicar' or 'when I spoke to Christian name / Mr Bloggs'

Please don't use Reverend in isolation - Postman pat has alot to answer for!

my old man's a rev. he answers to most things(!).... first name is fine....

mrsoldbatty I can't help singing "My old man's a reverend, he wears a reverend's hat, he wears a cassock and surplice, and ecclesiastic tat" :o

Mary that made me splutter

ditto to my old man answering to any old, he's been called anything from Rev MHD's DH to Father MHD's DH to simply Father, which makes him The kids at school call him Rev MHD's DH's christian name.

This isnt Rev, but we used to live really rurally and my dh was the local GP. Old ladies used to refer to me as "Mrs Doctor".

It was a prerrt place but i do appreciate the anonymity of weegieland!

MaryBS - that is brilliant!!! have to remember that one....

I made it up :), just as I was reading your post :)

Ah yes i often now get called 'Mrs vicarage ' since Rev came out :-)