What is a Vicars role in the community?

Answer 1

A 'vicar' (or sometimes 'rector' depending on the history of a parish) is the priest with oversight of an area called a parish within the Anglican Church of which the Church of England is one province. Vicars have what is called the 'cure of souls'. This means that, because the Church of England is the official state church of the land, vicars have a pastoral and spiritual responsibility for everyone within their parish and not just church members. This is a huge strength of the parish ("parochial") system as every person in the country has the right to pastoral or spiritual care from their own vicar whether or not they attend church. This is more than can be said for any other denomination where the minister is only responsible pastorally for his or her own church members. Therefore, as well as the normal Sunday services and the saying, privately or publicly, of the daily offices, a vicar is also responsible for all spiritual care, teaching, preaching and so on in the parish. Often this will involve Bible study, nurture courses (like the Alpha course), attendance at community events, visiting the sick and bereaved, involvement in community groups, involvement in local schools or hospitals within the parish boundaries and any other activity where his or her presence is either expected or is an asset.