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read oneself in

C1 formal inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To officially start a new job as a Church of England vicar by reading a special text in church.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic formal

(Church of England) To formally take up a new ecclesiastical position by publicly reading a prescribed doctrinal text.

"The new rector read himself in at the Sunday morning service, marking the official start of his ministry."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Highly specific to the Church of England tradition. When a new rector or vicar takes up a living, they formally 'read themselves in' by publicly reading the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. Rarely used outside Anglican ecclesiastical contexts.

Commonly used with

living parish rector vicar incumbent church

Forms

Base
read oneself in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
reads oneself in
he/she/it
Past simple
read oneself in
yesterday
Past participle
read oneself in
have + pp
-ing form
reading oneself in
continuous

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Synonyms

take up a living be inducted be installed be inaugurated

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