Church Ranks and Titles

[Lady Rosalind Avalle]

Here are some basic Church titles and forms of address to help you in your game. For a full list, please refer to this website.

Monks

- Monks may be addressed as "Brother" or "Brother John," but never as "Monk John."

Heiromonks

- Monks who are ordained priests by their monastery's abbot. May be addressed as "Father" or "Father Smith," but never "Father George."

Priests

- Priests exist outside of the monastery and are generally affiliated with one region or town, dependent on parish population. May be addressed as "Father," "Father Jones," or "my lord."

Abbots

- Abbots are the elected heads of their abbeys, and comparable in title, power, and wealth to dukes. As such, they may be styled "My lord" or "Your Lordship," but never by his first name. When addressing in the third person or in a letter, refer to him as, "My lord Meurig, Abbot of Neath."

Bishops and Archbishops

- Bishops are referred by title and last name, e.g. Bishop Salvatore. After mentioning his last name once, you may refer to him as "Bishop" or "Your Excellency." Only archbishops and those of royal blood are styled "Your Grace." When discussing the bishop with an outside party or addressing the cardinal in a letter, refer to him as "His Excellency," or "His Excellency, the Bishop of Citaux."

Cardinals

- Cardinals may be addressed by their title and last name, e.g. Cardinal Braun. After mentioning him by name once, you may refer to him as "Your Eminence." When discussing the cardinal with an outside party or addressing him in a letter, refer to him as "His Eminence," or "His Eminence, the Cardinal of Oxford."

The Pope

- Never address the Pope by his name, ecclesiastical or otherwise. Refer to him verbally as "Holy Father" or "Your Holiness." Letters are addressed to "His Holiness Pope John XXII."