Question from a Reader: Is there a term for when a man becomes a vicar, such as getting sworn in or taking his vows, making an oath or something?

Answer: The man is appointed to the position by the one who owns the advowson—the right of presenting the living to someone. The Bishop of that Seat has to approve the appointment and then they “read ” the man in. Not so much a “they” as “who.” The archdeacon of that See, a cleric having a defined administrative authority delegated to him by the bishop in the whole or part of the diocese, is the one who does the job. The office has often been described metaphorically as oculus episcopi, the “bishop’s eye.” He comes and with congregation watching, puts the man’s hand on the key in the door or on the door, or the wall. Then he says, “By virtue of this mandate, I do induct you into the real, actual, and corporal possessions of this church of (name of church and location) with all the rights, profits, and appurtenances thereto belonging.”  Then the archdeacon leads the new clergyman inside. He fills out a certificate and the men of the church, the patron, and the vestry or other witnesses sign it. It is formally called an induction: The man is inducted into that church. But I have seen it called reading him in. Once a man has been read in he cannot be fired.

In the Regency period, a man entering the church usually went to university. There were few courses specifically for clergymen. A “seminary” during those day might very well be a girls’ school, not a place to study one’s religious beliefs or prepare one for tending a church. Prospective clergymen took the same courses as others for the most part with a study plan laid out by tutors. They attended some special lectures on theology and read the writings of St. Augustine, as well as Plato. There were complaints that the course of study was too secular. The tutor could also have them reading various works of theologians of the reformation as well .

They were supposed to use printed sermons and the prayers in the book of Common Prayer at first, anyway. 

After they graduated they might stay on as a tutor. They could not be ordained until age 24 and often required a position to hold them over until they found a church of their own. So, those of you who are Austen fans now know that Mr. Collins was likely around five and twenty or even older.

If they had the money and hoped to become a bishop one day, they might take courses in Civil law which was the law used in the church courts (English courts used Common law).  Most references to “Doctors,” such as Doctors’ Commons meant Doctor of Divinity (not medicine)  Doctors’ Commons was a place where Doctors of Divinity gathered. It was also where the Archbishop had an office and the site of the church court.

 As to how a man found a living, families and friends looked about for open livings. Those who stayed on as tutors had a chance at one of the livings where the university owned the right of presentation.

The man could be ordained at any time the bishop agreed to it but only after he was 24 years of age and had the offer of a position. After ordination, the man would be read into or inducted into the specific church.

In some churches the man would be rector and receive the major tithes. In others he would be vicar and receive the lesser tithes. Some times he might be a curate, which meant that he was paid a wage and could be sent home at any time. This was usually the case when the owner of the presentation had a young son he intended for the church and required a place holder until the boy turned 24. [See my Greater and Lesser Tithes and Who Received Them for more information.]

Jane Austen and the Clergy has some good information.

What I have described above is not the ordination which the bishop does in his cathedral. Taking orders or ordination is when the man—those in some denominations—places himself before the altar. The induction is the formal placing a man into a specific church to serve as the incumbent. The induction or “reading in” takes place in the church where the man will serve. According to the book of ecclesiastical law, the paragraph I provided earlier is what the arch deacon says.

He starts off with a warrant which is the formal, legal appointment which lays out the terms, the tithes, and the responsibilities.

Within 56 days the man is to read the 37 articles of religion to the congregation and affirm his whole hearted support of such.

There are 37 articles in the Book of Common prayer. The example is from the Province of the Archbishop of York, but the form is pretty much the same for both provinces. One resource as to the actual words would be a period copy of the Book of Common prayer.  

The Book of Common Prayer 1800 is online in Google Books 

The Clergyman’s Manual 1842, by Robert Simpson