3.3 Revival

One of the results of the environment described above was that the bishops decided in 1866 to reject the idea of a permanent diaconate and create the office of a licensed Reader. This decision enabled the bishop of Bristol and Gloucester to admit the first modern Reader on 10 May 1866. The body of Readers grew by the end of the nineteenth century to more than two thousand men who were often treated with suspicion by the clergy. Their principle function was reading prescribed texts in the mission hall rather than the church.

One of the negative consequences of the conditions which led to the restoration of the ministry of Readers which continues to exist in parts of the church today is that they have been seen by some parts of the church throughout their history as "substitutes" or "stop gap" measures to cover clergy absences.

In 1997 The House of Bishops indicated in its statements on Eucharistic Presidency that the nineteenth century revival "acknowledged and then eventually promoted the 'Ministry of the Word' by lay people". Whilst this would seem to be reasonable because the revived function, which was focused on reading, eventually led to the current primary function of preaching and teaching it is also possible the social, demographic and inter-denominational politics were significant factors in the creation of the office.