vicars

Vicar is a title derived from the Latin vicarius, meaning deputy or substitute. In Christian contexts, it denotes an official who represents a higher church authority and carries delegated jurisdiction over a specific area, often a parish. The precise role and powers of a vicar have varied across denominations and historical periods.

In the Anglican tradition, especially the Church of England, a vicar is the priest in charge of a parish. Historically, the distinction with a rector depended on who held the tithes; rectors received tithes directly, while vicars did not. Over time, many of these distinctions became largely historical, and the title vicar is commonly used for the incumbent who provides spiritual care, leads worship, administers the sacraments, and offers pastoral care under the authority of the diocesan bishop.

In the Catholic Church, vicar appears in several forms of delegated authority. A vicar general acts as the bishop’s principal deputy for governance; episcopal vicars assist the bishop within particular areas of the diocese; a vicar forane (dean) oversees a group of parishes. A parish priest may also be referred to as a vicar of the parish in certain contexts. In missionary territories, a vicar apostolic heads the jurisdiction as a pre-diocesan head of the region.

Usage of the term thus reflects a deputy or representative role rather than the sovereign leadership of a diocese, with exact responsibilities varying by country, tradition, and specific ecclesial governance.