Ref: Page 11, Three Licensed Readers. First let me thank you for not referring to the Readers as Lay Readers as the ignorant often do. I often say Ducks lay eggs Chickens lay eggs but the Church does not lay readers.

The Office of Reader is the only office (Reader or Lector) mentioned in the Epistle Col Ch 4 v 16 and in Revelations.

Thus it was an established order at least a 100 years before the priestly office was established. Bishops in a number of guises existed from the early Church onwards.

In the Church of England, the office of Reader died out in the turmoil of reformation because in many ways systematic authority broke down.

It was reborn in the mid Victorian period and in some cases was then a paid office.

Reader's in their training are duty bound to study and reach an assessed level of scholarship. In my long years in ministry I know what it is to drive many miles on a winter's night to maintain the worship in town and country Churches, as a Reader.

Thus I am fully aware of the sacrifice of time and effort that is involved in this ministry, after a heavy working week.

I just simply rejoice in the fact that there is so much dedication to unpaid service in this our so called modern society where the love of money is overwhelming.

STAN GODFREY, The Pippins, Eckington.