Ooooh, what fun!! Cookies, LOOKY! A whole fashion show of vestments for us to critique! Of course we’ll do so in the most Christian of manners, remembering that Jesus would never- even when he was totally horrified by the color combos worn by his fellow rabbis– ever say anything outright insulting about their garb. I mean, how could the man who said, “Don’t worry about what you’re going to wear! The lilies of the field are awesome and stuff” get catty about clothes? Of course I paraphrase. What Jesus actually said was “Behold the lilies of the field! They neither sew nor do they knit nor do they shop retail, and even Solomon in all his glory could not rock the runway like one of these!” It’s in Luke. I think. Maybe Matthew. You have your own Bible: you can look it up yourself.
At any rate, thank you to the Twitteur, @DukeofVinings, for sending me the link to the Parish Fashion Show. Those Brits are just so much fun. Let’s make a cuppa and have a look. Click on the images if you want to enlarge them for better scrutiny.
This man is so happy to be there that I can’t help but smile and feel real affection for him. In all seriousness, I am in Newtown, CT right now visiting my sister, and it’s a sad world here. Although I feel like, “Oh, Father! You have a whole picture book down your front! It’s a bit much,” another part of me just loves that the little tinies have something to “read” in church. It’s also beautifully rendered, unlike some of the truly tacky child-oriented stoles I’ve seen in my life. I’m not implying that this is a vestment that one would only wear to appeal to children, but it does have a distinctly child-like pastoral innocence about it:
Reverend Sister Girl! The Holy Spirit is dive-bombing your tummy! I’m worried! Again, this clergywoman radiates joy and love for God’s creation, and that’s more powerful than anything, but I do think the chasuble — especially when held out that way – looks like a heartburn commercial.
The Moses-parting-the-waters pose here cracks me up, but the chasuble is gorgeous and again, I love the sweet spirit of the man modeling it. I want a hug from him. This chasuble has bling factor and is festooned with Swarovski crystals. Read the comments on the article and you’ll see that, as per usual, the general public doesn’t approve of the opulence. This is because the Church has not made it clear to people that in wearing beautiful artwork as ceremonial garb, we are celebrating Beauty as a transcendent value. I don’t think it’s an unfair question to ask, “Couldn’t this money be better used to feed the poor?” To me, a more fitting question would be, “Couldn’t this money be better spent beautifying ugly, poverty-stricken environments in our city?” Also: this garment needs to be worn by someone who is appropriately groomed for it. Wild hair on head and face create a disconnect between the man of the cloth and the cloth:
I love these next two chasubles. Gorgeous.
And Emerald green is Pantone’s color of the year!
What is the function of this cape garment, Pigeons? Being of a very low church tradition, I know nothing about them. These are stunning. Again, I don’t think the grooming of the young priest lives up to the vestments. A chignon would be just right, and impeccable posture, please.
Gal Priest about town! What do you think? I do believe this is the wave of the future, kids! If she’s going to wear an untucked clerical shirt (yes, I do appreciate that it’s shaped to be worn untucked) and a short, kicky little girlie skirt, I’m grateful she’s wearing opaque black tights with the ensemble.
Your turn!
I come from a very High Church tradition (the Episcopal Cathedral in Omaha), and I’m recalling the person who holds the thurible (incense dispenser) wearing a cape. If there’s any obscure vestment or symbol one carries, it exists in the Episcopal Church.
I like most of them, except for the Bird of Prey and the Tra La La League (aka, the short skirt, blouse & cutie pie shoes). Say, you know how Womenspirit names their robes…?
The official name of the capes in the picture second from bottom is “Cope” and is the liturgical version of the traveling cloak. The good news? Anybody can wear a cope while leading worship! It is particularly appropriate for high festivals (Easter Vigil is a great service for the cope) or special services that don’t include communion (for example, an evening advent lessons and carols service). I also know pastors in colder climates who have less decorated more utilitarian copes that they wear during winter funerals so that they can stay vested for the graveside part of the service.
Kiss of peace,
A former Lutheran seminary sacristan
What fun! Thought you would def give a nod to the black cassock w/red collar & sleeves – so smart & crisp. [Yes, it was! - PB] Would love the idea of Vestments! the Musical, if only it wouldn’t be schlock like so many Nunsenses over the years….
Actually, those are not copes. A cope is an ornate vestment that does look like a clock, but is usually made of materials similar to the chasuble. No,those are classic cloaks. I have one myself, and wear it to do graveside and outdoor services in the chilly months. It goes over vestments such as the cassock and surprise or cassock alb, and may also be worn over a chasuble. It’s essentially an overcoat. I wore mine over my chasuble during a rainy Palm Sunday procession, and most recently with office dress for a graveside.
…the fancy name for the black cape is a “cappa nigra/negra,” meaning (wait for it…) “black cape.” It’s worn by clergy over top of vestments, whenever an extra layer of warmth is needed – greeting at the church door, graveside services, outdoor services. It sometimes has an added “capelet” that covers the shoulders, and is often worn with a biretta (the hat kind, not the firearm…). The ones pictured above have an unusually ornate/shiny clasp, and I’ve never seen a grey one before. Mysteries abound…
In some European traditions, capes are worn instead of preaching gowns…perhaps due to the cold, unheated churches
Bee T and Julia are correct. I used to serve in a Cathedral where we wore brocade lined with satin copes to process, but dropped them (as we said, really just meant shrugged them off into our chairs) when it was time to get to work. I’m sure just because it was in Florida, the church had old airconditioning, and they weighed about 25 pounds had nothing to do with it. We did try to avoid preciousness at all costs.
@Gidget: It’s Bird of PRAY, you silly! And I think that getup looks like a tablecloth.
I think I have Vestment Envy, coming from a low church tradition where I only wore a robe for weddings, funerals, Christmas Eve and Easter. I got through 20 years of ministry on one robe only, with several different stoles as suited my fancy in the moment. (Or as matched the color scheme of the wedding party.)
As someone said above, the cope is very commonly worn in the UK for the burial part of the funeral service during cold weather. Even for many of us Methodist ministers, it’s a standard part of the clerical gear to look respectable for a funeral. So, in that context, I’m not quite sure about the “designer” linings. I’m assuming the lavender and purple were intended to be respectful yet fashionable. I feel dubious about making a fashion statement as the clergyperson leading a funeral.
in great envy. . .especially that after 25 ordained ministry both my robes really should find a burn pile. . . .but I would rather buy books (& coffee or tea for parishoners) then spend my $$ on robes. . . .sigh. . .
The role of the chausable is that it’s a garment used for celebrating the Eucharist. There are traditions where it is worn for the entire service. I am an Anglican priest and put my chausable on during the Peace and just before the table is set.
When I do a teaching Eucharist with the children of the parish, the chausable is likened to an apron, as it is worn to prepare the table. While my tradition is “high church” there are some times when you simply need to have fun. That’s when the linens are referred to as “holy hankies” and explained, piece by piece what each is called and why we use them.
We wear different colours for different seasons in the church i.e. blue for Advent, purple for Lent, red for Pentecost, white for Easter / Wedding / Funeral and green for Ferial or “ordinary” time.
I was very blessed to have the majority of my vestments made by a friend. Most of the fabrics are upholstery weight, so they drape properly and none of them are brocaded. I’m not even sure if “brocaded” is a word. However, they are beautiful and each of them speaks to my style of ministry and to who I am as a priest.
I was generously gifted with a black funeral cape, called a cappa negra, which has been a godsend at our outdoor Remembrance Day service and graveside funeral services. I quite often have been mistaken for the Angel of Death when I walk from the rectory to the local funeral home (it’s only a few blocks away). Oh well. Cappa negra, cassock and surplice, black velvet cloche hat, and it’s especially unnerving if I have the hood of the cape up, Very scary indeed.
hey!! who is the disgner?…. Gal Priest ?
Where can I purchase that clergy shirt? I am in dire need of something that is not so matronly.