I am a Reader in the Church of England.
A Reader is a lay person - that is, not ordained as a priest or clergyman. We are trained, and licensed by the Bishop, to lead church services and preach. There are over 10,000 Readers in the Church of England; about the same number as there are active (ie not retired) clergy. It is a voluntary position, and I have a full-time job in IT that keeps me housed and fed.
When leading a service or preaching, I wear a cassock. This is a neck-to-ankle long-sleeved close-fitted black robe. Over the cassock I wear a surplice, which is a much looser, rather shorter white robe with trailing sleeves. Over the surplice, I wear a long, broad, blue scarf that goes round my neck and hangs straight down on either side. This scarf is the distinguishing mark of a Reader, and it is also known as a tippet.
This is my blue tippet.
