lay reader

American  

noun

Anglican Church.

1. a layperson authorized by a bishop to conduct certain parts of a service.

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lay reader British  

noun

1. Church of England a person licensed by a bishop to conduct religious services other than the Eucharist

2. RC Church a layman chosen from among the congregation to read the epistle at Mass and sometimes other prayers

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Etymology

Origin of lay reader

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Ms. Allen’s easy explanation—of this and myriad other topics—opens fields of study lay readers might not otherwise have dared venture into.

From The Wall Street Journal

When it dives deep into the scoring itself, it’s a musicological feast that even tin-eared lay readers can appreciate.

From The Wall Street Journal

A lay reader may find this wordy description difficult to grasp.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the historians suggest this was a “literary device” to make the story more exciting and understandable to lay readers.

From Seattle Times

Graeber had mastered the art of pulling new research out of his home field and contextualizing it for the lay reader.

From Los Angeles Times