The Right Reverend Thomas Stanage

Why do we dress our clergy in ancient vesture like museum pieces when some churches allow their ministers to preach in their twenty first century clothes?

It is in fact not true to describe our present vestments as “ancient” as, through the years, they have often been changed to suit climate or comfort, indigenous or local custom.   But they do conform to a tradition which goes back to the second century of the Church.

            If one attends a Reformed Church today it is unlikely that one will see the robes of the seventeenth century being worn by the Minister.

Gone are the dark suits, the Genevan preaching bands and the black gown which signified “the teacher”. In the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa the “toga” is rarely used and gone too is the white tie that signified the purity of the Gospel.   In other reformed churches some congregations still supply their ministers with garments that closely resemble the Anglican Cassock/Alb over which is thrown a coloured stole.   The Roman Catholic Church today clothes its priests in similar robes, which indicates a significant simplifying of tradition.

Here is a list of the robes, garments or vestments worn in the Anglican Church and we invite you to take this article with you into the sacristy and check on its veracity!

 The Cassock

This is not an ecclesiastical garment and until the end of the first world war was the walking out dress of the deacon, priest and bishop.   For a bishop it is purple, signifying leadership and humility.   For the priest and Deacon it is black, signifying reverence and modesty.   Hardly any Anglican Clergyman walks around doing the shopping in a cassock today, although wearing a cassock helps to identify a priest who might in all sorts of street and road emergencies be called upon to minister.   Bishops, on the other hand, wore a very peculiar form of dress until the late fifties.   It comprised a frock coat, apron and leg gaiters.     Archdeacons wore the same dress and since everyone looked ridiculous in that apparel it was generally discontinued after 1960. Former bishops of Bloemfontein can be seen dressed in this unwieldy central heating system in the photographs of the Cathedral Chapter House.

 The Amice

This is a square linen or cotton cloth which the priest puts on first as he dresses for Holy Communion.   The word amice is derived from the Latin amictus, an upper or outer garment. It was originally a covering for the head and the custom of placing it momentarily on the head before finally rolling it off the back of the head on to the neck still survives.   Today, however, most clergy wear beautifully and specially tailored collared cassock/albs which make the amice redundant.   It signifies the veil with which the Jews covered   the face of Christ, when they tortured him in the time of his passion.

For the priest or bishop it signifies faith, which is the head, ground and foundation of all virtues and he or she puts that upon the head first.   (Rationale 1543)

 The Alb

The Alb was until very recently a white long-sleeved “gathered at the neck”  frock-like garment and it derives its name from the Latin ‘albus’ meaning white.   It is a long flowing garment, with tight sleeves and it reaches to the ground.    In tune with the Rationale above we learn that “the alb signifieth, as touching the mystery, the white garment, wherewith Herod clothed Christ in mockery, when he sent him to Pilate: and as touching the minister, it signifies the pureness of conscience, and innocency he ought to have, especially when he celebrates the Eucharist.”   Today the Cassock/Alb is the same garment but includes a large collar under which the stole hangs and the collar prevents human sweat from staining the stole! The earth coloured or cream coloured albs of today totally destroy the ancient meaning of this garment.

 The Girdle

This is a ‘rope’ made of linen thread, with tassels at either end.   It is a relatively modern substitute for a belt and was used to keep the alb from trailing on the floor.   Again the sixteenth century Rationale states:    “The Girdle as touching the mystery, signifies the scourge with which Christ was scourged: and as touching the minister, it signifies content and chaste living.”  In our Cathedral today it is not often used.

 The Stole

The word is derived from the Latin stola, a long narrow strip of material sometimes fringed at each end.   It is worn on the left shoulder of the deacon and round the neck of the priest, hanging down on each side below the knees.   Primarily a portion of the Eucharistic Vestments the stole is also used on other occasions, as in the administration of Holy Baptism (White), Absolution (Purple), Matrimony (White) and Burial (Purple, Black or White).  Here the Rationale is simple, “the stole signifieth the bands that Christ was bound with to the pillar, when he was scourged: and as touching the minister, it signifieth the yoke of patience, which he must bear as the servant of God.”

 The Chasuble

This is no longer the principal Eucharistic vestment because albs with three cornered stoles have often replaced them.  It is derived from the Latin casual, a little house, hut or tent.   In the Anglican tradition the chasuble is only worn by a priest or bishop.

It is oval in shape of a fairly rich material, closed all the way round, without sleeves and with an aperture in the centre, through which the head passes.   In the Roman Catholic Church chasubles have varied in shape, but not so in the Anglican Church up until 1549.

The chasuble may be simple and plain or decorated as can be seen in the vestment cupboards of the Cathedral Sacristy.   In the 1543 Rationale we read:   “The over vestment or chasuble, as touching the mystery, signifies the purple mantle that Pilate’s soldiers put upon Christ, after they had tortured him:  and as touching the minister, it signifies charity, a virtue excellent above all other.”

In the next issue we shall look at the other clothing of the Church such as the Bishop’s Mitre, the surplice, the scarf and hood, the Pastoral Staff of the Bishop and his rochette and chimere.

     Do all these things truly matter in a world which is a global village with its computer science and deep religious intolerance?   We use this clothing at the Cathedral and we think you should know why.    Let us know what you think.   Is it a little more Gospel centred after reading this information or is it for you simply religious theatre?