Lay clerk

Lay clerk

A lay clerk, also known as a lay vicar, song man or a vicar choral, is a professional adult singer (or an accomplished amateur) in a Cathedral or (occasionally) choir in the United Kingdom. The Vicars Choral were substitutes for the Canons. They are not in holy orders; the term "vicar" in this context comes from Latin word "vice" ("in place of") and simply means a deputy (as in vice-president). The majority of lay clerks are male, however there are female lay clerks in Dublin.

The title refers to the laymen who were employed to sing musical sections of church services during the Middle Ages. At the time, this was often music which was evolving into a format too complicated to be sung by many ordinary clerks and priests. With the post-war proliferation of Cathedral choral scholarships, however, many Cathedral or collegiate choirs comprise a balance between choral scholars (occasionally, as at Magdalen College, Oxford, "academical clerks") – university or "gap year" students who combine their studies or other commitments with singing – and lay clerks. Choral scholars sing alongside lay clerks for usually around half the latters' salary. Many universities now offer such scholarships to fill places within college and Cathedral choirs.

Historic titles

* Choral Bedesman - Boston, Lincolnshire


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  • Lay clerk — Lay Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother. [1913 Webster] 2. Not educated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lay clerk — noun : a member of a choir in an Anglican cathedral or collegiate church * * * lay clerk noun A singer in the choir of an Anglican cathedral, etc • • • Main Entry: ↑lay …   Useful english dictionary

  • lay clerk. — See lay vicar. [1805 15] * * * …   Universalium

  • lay clerk. — See lay vicar. [1805 15] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lay — Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother. [1913 Webster] 2. Not educated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lay baptism — Lay Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother. [1913 Webster] 2. Not educated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lay brother — Lay Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother. [1913 Webster] 2. Not educated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lay days — Lay Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother. [1913 Webster] 2. Not educated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lay elder — Lay Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother. [1913 Webster] 2. Not educated or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clerk — Le terme clerk désigne généralement un chanteur professionnel dans les chorales des cathédrales anglo saxonnes. Nuances Le lay clerk est une dénomination attribuée à un chanteur professionnel dans les chorales des cathédrales, dont la plupart… …   Wikipédia en Français

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