lay reader

American  

noun

Anglican Church.

1. a layperson authorized by a bishop to conduct certain parts of a service.

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lay reader British  

noun

1. Church of England a person licensed by a bishop to conduct religious services other than the Eucharist

2. RC Church a layman chosen from among the congregation to read the epistle at Mass and sometimes other prayers

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Etymology

Origin of lay reader

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

A lay reader may find this wordy description difficult to grasp.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Graeber had mastered the art of pulling new research out of his home field and contextualizing it for the lay reader.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2023

Joy Gambardella, a lay reader at the city’s Emmanuel Church, said Al Swealmeen had been a “committed Christian”.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2021

It demands of the lay reader an ability to compartmentalize that may be difficult for some to maintain.

From Slate • Oct. 17, 2020

An eminently readable volume, which, although designed primarily for the lay reader, has already elicited hearty commendation from not a few leaders of the profession....

From The Squirrel-Cage by Williams, John Alanzo