the group of ordained ministers of a church or denomination; all ministers together as distinguished from lay persons When used in distinction from laity, the term includes both bishops and priests; sometimes the term refers to all priests except the bishops: as in the expression, "All bishops and other clergy "
The clergy are the official leaders of the religious activities of a particular group of believers. These proposals met opposition from the clergy. the clergy the official leaders of religious activities in organized religions, such as priests, rabbis, and mullahs clerical (clergie, from clerc; CLERK)
The men of God's lot or inheritance In St Peter's first epistle (ch v 3) the Church is called God's heritage or lot In the Old Testament the tribe of Levi is called the lot or heritage of the Lord (Greek, Latin, clerus and clericus, whence Norman clerex and clerkus; French, clergé ) Benefit of clergy (See Benefit)
Divided into two classes, the clergy are the officials of the Church The regular clergy are those members who have withdrawn from the world and live according to a recognized religious rule This class includes monks and nuns The secular clergy are those who, charged with the spiritual care of their parishioners, are in constant contact with the secular world This class, which includes priests, bishops and archbishops, have taken the Sacrament of Holy Orders which allows them to administer the sacraments and to perform religious services
Certain senior officers of the Societies dress up as clergy and are the target of hand-launched fireworks at the fire sites Originally this was to mock the Roman Catholic church, perceived as being behind the Gunpowder Plot Its intention now is less clear See also Pope
The body of men set apart, by due ordination, to the service of God, in the Christian church, in distinction from the laity; in England, usually restricted to the ministers of the Established Church
Those who have received the sacrament of holy orders; namely, deacons (both permanent deacons and transitional deacons), priests (known also as presbyters) and bishops