How does the rector minister in the Church of England?

Answer 1

The Church of England is divided into two provinces (York and Canterbury), each province overseen by an Archbishop. Each province is divided into dioceses overseen by a bishop. Each diocese is split into archdeaconries overseen by senior priests called archdeacons. In each archdeaconry are several deaneries that are overseen by 'middle-management' priests called rural deans. A deanary consists of several parishes. This means that every home in England belongs to a parish, and, as the Church of England is the state church, every person in England has the legal right to pastoral care by the parish priest. The parish priest in the Church of England is called the vicar or rector. For all intents and purposes the two names are interchangeable. It just so happens that historically a rector earned his living be receiving from the parish a share ( a tenth - a tithe) of produce of the parish. The rector received Greater Tithes (wheat, hay and wood) and lesser Tithes (all the rest of the produce) whereas a vicar would receive the lesser Tithes only. For many many years the tithing system has been obsolete, all clergy now receiving pay in the form of a 'stipend' - payment of money in order that they can carry out their duty - but the titles of 'rector' and vicar' still remain attached to particular parishes. So the parish priest in one parish may historically still be called a rector whereas another may still be called a vicar - but their roles are identical. They have the 'charge of souls' of the parish - anyone in the parish has the right of pastoral and spiritual care from them. Amongst their other duties they are legally able to marry people without the presence of a registrar (they act as the registrar) and are obliged to take the normal services of the parish church, and daily offices where appropriate. They are expected to preach the Word of God regularly and to conduct themselves in a manner that befits someone of their standing in the community.