Editing Subdeacon (section)

==Subdeacons in the Anglican Church==
Whilst the office of subdeacon was not included in the Orders of Clergy when the Church of England was established during the 16th century, certain churches and communities in the [[Anglican Communion]] and within the [[Continuing Anglican Movement|Anglican Continuing Churches]] assign a [[laity|layperson]] to act as subdeacon in the celebration of the liturgy of the Holy Communion (especially [[Solemn High Mass]]).  However, this is considered a liturgical function one fulfills and not an order to which one is ordained. In some [[diocese]]s and [[Ecclesiastical Province|provinces]], laypersons who act as subdeacons in this manner may be required to be specifically authorised by the respective bishop or [[archbishop]]. In practice, an Anglican subdeacon performs similar roles to those performed in Latin Catholic or Western Rite Orthodox churches. The proper garments of the subdeacon are the alb and tunicle.