Some Unique Black Vestments for All Souls Day

From Liturgical Arts Journal-

All Souls Day is a time of the liturgical year when the laudable custom of black vestments comes into particular focus. To mark this liturgical occasion I wished to share some unique, historical black vestments with you today.

The symbolism found on each of these is particularly striking, featuring skeletons, purgatorial fires, even shovels and coffins. Some might, of course, see such symbolism as "macabre" but that reaction seems to me to come from a modern sensibility which wishes to hide away the realities of death. These are not macabre in my estimation, but they are memento mori -- and perhaps the fact that we wish to tuck away such remembrances and realities shows that we are in particular need of being reminded of them today.

More here-

http://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2017/11/some-unique-black-vestments-for-all.html

Every Day Is Casual Friday

From The Living Church-

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, broke with tradition in late June to allow Members of Parliament to skip wearing jackets and ties in the chamber. Now the Church of England’s General Synod has decided it is in keeping with the modern world for clergy to have the choice of leading worship while wearing casual clothes.

In a similar vein. the Queen wore a dress and hat rather than the traditional robes and crown while presenting the traditional monarch’s speech spelling out the government’s program for the next Parliament. And on a hot day in June, men in the membership enclosure at the Royal Ascot races were allowed to dispense with jackets.

The synod decision needs an Amending Canon, after which it will go to the Monarch for Royal Assent. Many clergy, particularly evangelicals, ignore existing canon law that says “the presiding minister shall wear either a surplice or alb with scarf or stole” at Holy Communion, baptisms, and funerals.
More here-

http://htl.li/OEEz30dH5vF

How the mitre have fallen: Bishops urged to ditch their 'silly' hats for more modern look

From The Mirror-

Bishops are being urged to ditch their “daft” pointed hats to try to make the Church more modern.

Critics claim tall mitres, usually worn at formal services, are “silly” and outdated.

Rev Ian Paul, an academic theologian, said: “A piece of attire which communicates absolute authority has no place within Anglican understandings of ministry.

“To most, and I suggest especially the young, bishops in mitres put them in another world.

“It looks daft and it does not signify anything in the Church of England. It makes them distant and it makes them look silly.”

More here-

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-mitre-fallen-bishops-urged-10766206

A cassock: Work clothes, not a dress uniform

From Aleteia-

The first day he put on a cassock, a seminarian got a letter from a friend, a few years his senior. This is what he learned about his cassock:

A cassock. Today in your eyes it is more beautiful than a bride’s dress. You are truly and rightfully happy wearing it; after all, you have been waiting for it since the time you entered the seminary.

I can only hope that you will be equally happy when it has come to be what its color implies, i.e. a deadly shroud and a dying uniform. Today it is a bride’s dress you enthuse over, along with your family and friends. Be as enthusiastic about it when it starts to be your solitary confinement, cage and furnace where God will melt and purify you, an uncomfortable hermitage.

More here-

https://aleteia.org/2017/06/25/a-cassock-work-clothes-not-a-dress-uniform/

Church of England changes wardrobe

Fro The U.K.-

The Church of England's governing body is expected to ban clergy from wearing overly revealing or political clothing.

The measures are part of an overhaul of canon law regarding how church leaders dress which is set for the upcoming General Synod meeting later this week.

The changes also include giving clergy to option not to wear traditional vestments while performing official church ceremonies such as Holy Communion or weddings, baptisms and funerals.

Currently the rules stipulate that vicars wear proper robes when performing these duties however in practice they are often ignored, particularly at more contemporary Anglican services or churches.

More here-

http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Church-of-England-changes-wardrobe

Parish Fashion Week: Vicars strut down the aisle as they show off colourful new robes

From the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" Department- (UK Division) Video too!

The very latest Parish fashions were modelled today by men and women of God who paraded down a clergy catwalk.

Five vicars showed off the new designs in ecclesiastical wear, which are made in the different colours which are worn according to the season in the Church's calendar.

Hundreds of clergy jostled for a place on the show's front row as the group revealed cutting-edge bespoke vestments in bright colours.

Crucifixes and cross neckwear were also on show, along with a capsule collection of 'leisure pieces' for the busy vicar.

The clergy catwalk featured at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Bristol, a two-day event showcasing every item needed by clergy - from candles to wine.

More here-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267042/Vicars-Bristol-model-latest-ecclesiastical-wear.html

Synod seeks to amend robes canon

From The church Times (Really? Robe canons?)

WEARING robes could become optional for those officiating at some services, after the General Synod passed a motion calling for draft legislation to relax the current rules.

After a debate on Saturday at the University of York, the Synod passed a private member's motion by the Revd Christopher Hobbs, from the diocese of London, which called for robing to become optional in some circumstances.

"For holy communion there is no flexibility," Mr Hobbs said. "It makes no difference if it is café-style in a pub, outside in a field, in a hotel lounge or lobby. Surplice and alb is required, with scarf or stole."

Many members of the Synod agreed, arguing that, in some contexts, the wearing of robes was inappropriate or unhelpful for mission. Sam Follett, the youngest member of the Synod, said that, for Fresh Expressions, robes would often get in the way of reaching the unchurched.

More here-

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2014/18-july/news/uk/synod-seeks-to-amend-robes-canon

Pope Francis' none-too-subtle Vatican 'dress code'

From The LA Times (and our friend Michael McGough)

Vaticanologists — the Catholic version of Kremlinologists — are journalists and scholars who scrutinize even the most trivial actions for clues to the thinking of the pope. A subset of this group (in which I include myself) pays special attention to what Pope Francis wears.

As I have written before, compared with Pope Benedict XVI, Francis has been “dressing down,” eschewing ornate vestments and sky-high jeweled miters (the double-pointed headdress worn by Catholic and Anglican bishops). This isn’t just a matter of fashion preferences: Benedict’s fondness for Baroque vestments was viewed by both liberals and conservatives in the church as a coded endorsement of the theology and style of worship of pre-Vatican II Catholicism.

More here-

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-pope-vestments-vatican-20140701-story.html

BAD VESTMENTS

Here's a funny web site with an ecclesiastical bend. So far my picture's not on it. (Thanks to Bruce Robison for sending this along)

When I saw this, my first thought was that this bishop resembled some kind of garden tool or obscure cooking utensil. Then I thought that those things on his miter were Christmas lights that blinked in some kind of coordinated manner. Beyond that, I have no idea what this man might have been thinking.

See if you've been posted here-

http://badvestments.blogspot.com/