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The Very Reverend (abbreviated asThe Very Revd orThe Very Rev) is anhonorificstyle given to certain (primarilyWestern)Christian clergy andministers.
Thedefinite article "the" should always precede "Reverend" when used before a name (e.g.,the Very Rev. John Smith), because "Reverend" is an honorific adjective, not atitle.[1]
In theCatholic Church, the style is given, by custom, to priests who hold positions of particular note. These include:vicars general,episcopal vicars,judicial vicars,ecclesiastical judges,vicars forane (deans or archpriests), provincials of religious orders, rectors or presidents of cathedrals, seminaries or colleges/universities, priors of monasteries, orcanons. Monsignors of the grade ofChaplain of His Holiness are styled asthe Very Reverend Monsignor, whilehonorary prelates andprotonotary apostolics are styledthe Right Reverend Monsignor. Now, apart from legitimate custom or acquired right, newer monsignors are simply styledThe Reverend Monsignor. The style is also accorded in theDominican Order to holders of the title ofMaster of Sacred Theology.[2]
In English-speakingEastern Orthodox churches, the style is used forarchimandrites (for monastic clergy) andprotopresbyters (for married clergy).[3]
In theAnglican Communion,[4] the style is used with certain seniorpriests in adiocese. The senior priest of acathedral, whether adean or aprovost, is usually styled asthe Very Reverend regardless of whether the priest is also therector of the cathedralparish, or whether the cathedral is aparish church. In theEpiscopal Church USA, the dean of aseminary or divinity school is also styled in this form, as is the priest who is either appointed by the local bishop or elected by fellow priests as the leader of a deanery, which is a geographic subdivision of a diocese. In some Episcopal dioceses convocation is used in lieu of deanery. The Provosts and Deans of Dioceses in theScottish Episcopal Church (who do not head a cathedral chapter) and theAnglican Church of Canada (who do) are also styled asthe Very Reverend.[citation needed]
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In some mainline Protestant churches with aPresbyterian heritage, the style is used for formerModerators of the General Assembly, such as:
By custom, theDean of the Chapel Royal, theDean of the Thistle and (if a Church of Scotland minister) the principal ofSt Mary's College, St Andrews, are also styledThe Very Reverend.
