Lay clerk
（重定向自Vicar choral）
A lay clerk, also known as a lay vicar, song man or a vicar choral, is a professional adult singer in an Anglican cathedral and often Roman Catholic Cathedrals in the UK, or (occasionally) collegiate choir in Britain and Ireland. The vicars choral were substitutes for the canons. They are not in holy orders; the term "vicar" in this context comes from Latin word vice ("in place of") and simply means a deputy (as in vice-president). The majority of lay clerks are male; however, female altos are nowadays becoming increasingly common.