Overall the initial evidence suggests that whilst it is clear that the ministry of translation, reading and interpreting scripture existed before the church orders developed by the early church, it remains unclear at what point of time the task of reading became the function of a specific group of ordained people called 'Readers'.

2.4 Early Church

There has always been a clear distinction between the minor orders which included the Readers and the major orders which consisted of the orders of bishops and priests (collectively referred to as presbyters in some texts) and deacons. It is clear that The Readers were a distinct group and that they were obliged to respect the church hierarchy and their place within it.

Now this we all in common do charge you, that every one remain in that rank which is appointed him, and do not transgress his proper bounds; for they are not ours, but God's. For if there were no rule or distinction of orders, it would suffice to perform all the offices under one name.________ And in common, presbyters, and deacons, and sub-deacons, and readers, were ordained by all of us.