Examples of clear differences in policy in the selection and training of Readers is illustrated by the diocese of Newcastle which demanded that parochial Readers passed an exam and had appropriate practical experience, and that Diocesan Readers had a university degree, the diocese of Canterbury which admitted as late as 1910 that the insistence on candidates taking examinations was an ongoing difficulty and the diocese of Chester (1890) where testimonials were preferred to examinations. The diocese of Bradford was innovative and used Diocesan Readers as a pool which could be allocated on request to an incumbent as a temporary assistant. They also required parishes to pay Readers not less than five shillings plus expenses for reading each service. The diocese of Exeter recognised the need for spiritual development and decided in 1924 to establish a committee to work out how to move from an Association of Readers to a Diocesan Board which focused on the spirituality, efficiency and numbers of Readers.

The diversity in the local rules and the obvious ongoing need for some form of auxiliary ministry to assist the clergy led to the decision on 8 July 1903 to form a committee of the convocation of Canterbury to examine the possibility of re-establishing the minor orders or creating a new lay agency of Readers or sub-deacons.