Vestments - To Wear or Not to Wear, That is the Question!

Vestments – To Wear or Not to Wear, That is the Question

Until I went to study at Wesley Study Centre (WSC) I had never given the question of what a Presbyter should wear when leading worship serious consideration.  I had never thought about what I would wear when I started serving in Circuit as a Probationer Presbyter, partly because there seemed to me to be far more important things to think about!

To understand this you have to understand my Christian background.  I grew up, and spent most of my life worshipping in, a Methodist Church where vestments were not really worn.  The first minister I remember just wore a dark suit and clerical shirt when he took services, irrespective of the type of service.  His successor wore a black cassock with a plain black gown and preaching bands.  The next minister of the church wore what I now know to be a cassock alb; but was roundly mocked by some of the congregation for wearing what they all called ‘a monks robe’.  All the subsequent ministers wore suits and clerical shirts, without bands!

Despite a brief flirtation with Anglo-Catholicism when I was at Leeds University I naturally assumed that if I became a Probationer Presbyter I would wear a suit and black clerical shirt when taking church services.

Just before I left for WSC I was given a black gown, but couldn’t really foresee when I would actually wear it.

I was bemused at college, where Student Ministers from WSC studied and worshipped alongside Anglican Ordinands from Cranmer Hall, by the excitement of Anglican friends whenever one of the vestment companies visited college.  They would swarm over the cassocks and cassock albs with great enthusiasm, trying them on and adding various other bits and pieces, the names of which I can’t remember.  Some of them would even buy cassocks and wear them when leading morning or evening prayer or would don cassock albs for serving at Holy Communion services.  It all seemed to be very over the top and unnecessary to me.

The only thing that tempted me doesn’t come under the heading of vestments at all; and that was one of those marvelous Anglican cloaks that make the wearer, depending on height, look like either a hobbit or Count Dracula.  I will be getting one of those!

    

When I arrived in Circuit to start as a Probationer Presbyter I discovered that my predecessor had worn a cassock and stole for every service.  I decided they’d soon get used to the change and turned up for my first few Sundays at my largest church in a suit and black clerical shirt.  This seemed fine and I received no adverse comments.

Along came Remembrance Sunday and the service at the village War Memorial is one which is shared between the Methodists and Anglicans.  The British Legion came to see me about the public act of worship and made it clear they expected me to wear a cassock and were quite upset when I told them I didn’t have one. They looked happier when I said I’d compromise and wear the black robe.

I have subsequently worn that robe for every service of Holy Communion I have taken at my largest church and for every funeral service.  Comments receive indicate to me that it is much appreciated.  I don’t wear it at the three smaller chapels I serve because they have made it quite clear to me that they don’t like vestments of any kind; probably because they we all Primitive Methodists.  One of my Circuit colleagues who turned up in a cassock alb to preside at Communion was roundly and firmly told it was not acceptable to them!

I have another year as a Probationer Presbyter before, God (and the District Probationers Committee) willing, I will be ordained.  I have been doing a lot of thinking about vestments lately and wondered if I should, after all, consider whether or not to purchase and wear a cassock and/or cassock alb.  If I suddenly started wearing either now, after a year, it would look and seem odd, but ordination marks a natural moment for the change, if it is to be made.

I have already decided that after ordination I will start wearing preaching bands; and different coloured stoles to mark the liturgical seasons, but I’m still trying to decide if I should go all the way and wear a cassock and/or cassock alb at my largest church.

There are a number of considerations involved, not least of which is the fact that my wife really does object to me wearing what she calls ‘a dress’.  Is this a subject where I have to consider her opinion and feelings or do I lay them to one side if I feel it is right for me to wear a cassock or cassock alb?

A second consideration is why I would want to wear either a cassock or cassock alb.  It is certainly not for reasons of personal vanity or to try and set myself apart as something special.  That’s the last thing I want!  To my mind I think it is about, to a certain extent, subsuming my personality as identity so that I’m not so much seen as ‘Rick’ when I’m preaching or presiding at one of the sacraments, but as a Presbyter who is serving God as faithfully as I can and not doing so for any personal gain or glory.   I also think that appropriate vestments can add to the dignity of the worship of God, something lacking in some churches today.

This is something I’m still very much wrestling with.  Feedback will be very welcome and appreciated.