How Do You Address A Vicar.

[Tilly2]

Yesterday, I had cause to ring the vicar of a parish church. He introduced himself a Fred Bloggs.

I couldn't call him Fred, as I have never met him so I called him Mr Bloggs.

I need to ring him again today. Mr Bloggs doesn't seem correct. Do I have to say, 'Hello Reverend, Bloggs'?

[dannyk13]

That would be correct Tilly.

[Tilly2]

Thanks, Danny.

[vulcan42]

At any church I've attended people use vicar or rector.

[mikey4444]

Why not ask ?

Lots of Vicars today are women. Some are High Church, and may prefer Father, rather than Vicar. Some may be happier if you used their first name.

We had a woman Vicar near me a few years ago, and she was the first women incumbent ever. When she attended the local primary school, for their morning assembly for the first time, the Head Mistress said that they were a little nervous of how to address her.

She told them that her name was Mandy, so she was known to all the kids thereafter as Vicar Mandy !

[zebo]

If he introduces himself as Fred Bloggs then I think it would be acceptable to call him Fred; if it's a CofE church then he's Reverend Bloggs usually.

[Tilly2]

On the church website it says, 'The Reverend Fred Bloggs.'

[dannyk13]

There's your answer Tilly, as I said.

[Old_Geezer]

'ello Vic ! 'ow's it going ?

[vulcan42]

On the church website it says, 'The Reverend Fred Bloggs.'
That's when you write to the person, face to face and on the telephone it's vicar or rector. It's the same as addressing a doctor you don't know personally.

[Smowball]

Love OGs answer lol

[mikey4444]

My Aunt in Newquay, Cornwall, had a Vicar called Rick, who loved being called Rick the Vic !

I asked a Bishop once, how he liked to be greeted and he said "Your Grace" was quite perfectly sufficient, as he didn't like a lot of fuss !

[Buenchico]

The Church of England website confirms that 'Mr Bloggs' was the correct verbal form of address.

'The Reverend Bloggs' should never be used at all in this country. If writing to a vicar, or introducing him formally, his forename, initials or simply 'Mr' must be placed between the word 'reverend' and his surname. (e.g. 'The Reverend Jim Bloggs', 'The Reverend J Bloggs' or 'The Reverend Mr Bloggs' are all correct forms but 'The Reverend Bloggs' is always wrong).

https://www.churchofengland.org/contact-us/addressingtheclergy.aspx

[Buenchico]

PS: Debrett's concurs:
https://www.debretts.com/expertise/forms-of-address/professions/religion/

[Berniecuddles2]

i would call him fred ...thats his name

[ducksie]

If he introduced himself as Fred, call him that, I'm RC and have friends who are priests, everyone calls them by their first name and only when in church we think of them as Fr. Joe or whatever, two are friends with me on social media and they don't use their title in their status

[Tilly2]

What if I just say, 'Hello, Reverend' when I ring him?

[dannyk13]

If you are not going to address him by name then "Hello vicar" would also be appropriate.

[ducksie]

If that's what you're comfortable with, maybe say good morning or good afternoon then, rather than just hello, if you're going to be formal with him

[ducksie]

Do you know Tilly, I think you are going to get into such a tiz over this that when he does answer the phone you are going to become tongue tied, if I were you, I'd write down the greeting and read it as he answers and carry on your conversation after that