Page "Knight" Paragraph 69

Since the reign of Edward VII a clerk in holy orders in the Church of England has not normally received the accolade on being appointed to a degree of knighthood.

He receives the insignia of his honor and may place the appropriate letters after his name or title but he may not be called Sir and his wife may not be called Lady.

This custom is not observed in Australia and New Zealand, where knighted Anglican clergymen routinely use the accolade.

Ministers of other Christian Churches are entitled to receive the accolade.

For example, His Eminence Sir Norman Cardinal Gilroy did receive the accolade on his appointment as Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1969.

A knight who is subsequently ordained does not lose his title.

A famous example of this situation was The Revd Sir Derek Pattinson, who was ordained just a year after he was appointed Knight Bachelor, apparently somewhat to the consternation of officials at Buckingham Palace.

A woman clerk in holy orders may be appointed a Dame in exactly the same way as any other woman since there are no military connotations attached to the honour.

A clerk in holy orders who is a baronet is entitled to use the title Sir.