Forms of Address
How to address Anglican and Episcopal clergy
Anglican and Episcopal clergy use a tiered set of Reverend forms: "The Most Reverend" for an Archbishop, "The Right Reverend" for a Bishop, "The Very Reverend" for a Dean, and "The Reverend" for a Priest. The salutation typically drops to "Dear Bishop/Dean/Father [Last Name]:" depending on rank.
Checked September 10, 2026/7 min read
Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28
What is on this page6 sections
The Anglican and Episcopal clergy hierarchy uses one of the more elegant systems on this site: a single word, Reverend, modified by Most, Right, or Very to signal exactly where someone sits in the hierarchy without needing a completely different honorific at each level.
An Archdeacon is the one exception worth remembering, since it breaks from the Reverend pattern entirely in favor of The Venerable, a distinct historical title rather than another tier of the same system.
Step by step
Address an Archbishop as The Most Reverend
"The Most Reverend [Full Name], Archbishop of [Province]" on the envelope, with "Your Grace" or "Dear Archbishop [Last Name]:" as the salutation.
THE RIGHT REVEREND SARAH J WHITFIELDBISHOP OF [DIOCESE]123 CATHEDRAL CLOSEHARTFORD CT 06103CorrectStandard envelope format for an Episcopal Bishop. Address a Bishop as The Right Reverend
"The Right Reverend [Full Name], Bishop of [Diocese]" on the envelope, with "Dear Bishop [Last Name]:" as the standard salutation.
Address a Dean as The Very Reverend
A Dean, typically leading a cathedral, is addressed as "The Very Reverend [Full Name], Dean of [Cathedral]," with "Dear Dean [Last Name]:" as the salutation.
Address an Archdeacon as The Venerable
"The Venerable [Full Name], Archdeacon of [Area]" on the envelope, with "Dear Archdeacon [Last Name]:" as the salutation, a distinct honorific from the Reverend tiers used for the other ranks.
Address a Priest as The Reverend
"The Reverend [Full Name]" on the envelope, with "Dear Father/Mother [Last Name]:" or simply "Dear Mr./Ms./Reverend [Last Name]:" as the salutation, depending on the specific parish and personal preference.
Quick reference
| Rank | Envelope opens with | Salutation |
|---|---|---|
| Archbishop | The Most Reverend [Full Name] | Your Grace / Dear Archbishop [Last Name]: |
| Bishop | The Right Reverend [Full Name] | Dear Bishop [Last Name]: |
| Dean | The Very Reverend [Full Name] | Dear Dean [Last Name]: |
| Archdeacon | The Venerable [Full Name] | Dear Archdeacon [Last Name]: |
| Priest | The Reverend [Full Name] | Dear Father/Mother [Last Name]: |
| Brother (religious order) | Brother [Name] | Dear Brother [Name]: |
Special cases
The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.
Is Episcopal the same as Anglican?
The Episcopal Church is the US member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion, so the two traditions share the same clergy hierarchy and address conventions. "Anglican" is the broader international term; "Episcopal" specifically refers to the US church.
Does a female priest use Mother instead of Father?
Both traditions ordain women, and "Mother [Last Name]" is used by some as the parallel to "Father," though many female priests are addressed simply as "Reverend [Last Name]" or by their preferred form. Confirm the individual own preference where possible.
How is a retired bishop addressed?
The Right Reverend and Bishop title generally continue, with the office line updated to reflect emeritus or retired status, similar to Catholic clergy convention.
Key terms on this page
- The Right Reverend
- The formal address for a Bishop in the Anglican and Episcopal tradition, one tier below Archbishop.
- The Venerable
- The formal address for an Archdeacon, a distinct honorific from the tiered Reverend forms used for other Anglican and Episcopal clergy ranks.