What else could you do with those horrid lemon-yellow, aqua and purple squiggles except to make A Complete Set.
Actually it's a good thing ... it's kept all the horror in one place
What's this business, anyway, of having a mitre designed with a pattern to match other vestments? Where does that come from?
I guess it comes from vestment-makers realizing they could sell multiple mitres instead of just the traditional three or four.
The Church of England has, as in other areas, no rubrics or official directions concerning mitres, so bishops do what they see fit/what their chaplains persuade them of. This tends to mean the evangelicals often only seem to have one mitre, that matches their favourite cope. The more catholic minded bishops tend, like much of the more catholic minded part of the Church of England, to look to the RC rubrics, and so have the plain white, plain gold and maybe a 'precious' mitre; often with none of these specifically matching any vestments as they tend to only use their own when there is nothing suitable locally.
So maybe the growth in decorated mitres like these is another sign of the small battles (others might include use of the stole, candles, wafer bread) won over the 20th century by the catholic movement in the CofE, whilst arguably having lost the overall war. In this case, the winning of the battle of getting the bishop to wear a mitre, but lost any sense of the whys and wherefores...
I suspect there's not likely to be a rubric on this. I don't think any bishops wore them from the Reformation until the second half of the nineteenth century.
Bishops I've seen in recent years have tended to sport plain white or gold mitres, along with the appropriate chasuble for the occasion. Our Diocesan, celebrating a Sunday Eucharist one day last year, didn't wear a mitre, as he was acting as a simple priest, IYSWIM.
A lot of it comes down to personal taste, and money of course.
Although some startling and jazzy vestments were designed for him (notably by Beryl Dean) the late Archbishop Runcie tended to prefer the plain - although standing a good 6' 2" perhaps he didn't feel the need to stand-out too much. But he even had the occasional lapse, like the silver horror (with matching mitre) he wore for the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Commonly worn here by Bishops at non-Eucharistic services - or even at those if in Sydney. They are usually called Convocation or Canterbury robes as a shorthand.
I'm fairly certain the first bishop to wear a miter in my diocese did so in my adult lifetime, and I'm a millennial! The [American] Episcopal Church isn't nearly as uniformly "high" as most members of the CofE seem to think.
A few days ago I had occasion to cook for a friend whose partner lives with a celiac condition; I was given precise instructions about wiping down surfaces and so forth and the lunch went well. She was a German Lutheran and active as a chorister in her home town in Germany; she told me that she only communicated through the wine, as there was too much bother arranging gluten-free bread (I don't know if her particular province uses wafers or not). I know that there are several communicants in my home parish (Anglican Church of Canada) who do not communicate through the wine-- I assume either as they have an allergy to alcohol or who have discovered that they must not drink it-- so perhaps there is a parallel possible practice here. The real problem would be for an alcoholic who has a celiac condition.
We have one who does not take the wine (but will hold the chalice for the words of administration) because some of those before her will have intincted with ordinary wafers and there may have be a crumb or several left in it. Her condition is very severe, probably the most of several in the congregation, and she does not want to take the risk. Who can blame her?
We use a separate chalice for those who need gluten free for precisely the reasons given above. Someone allergic to both gluten and alcohol would at least be able to receive the bread.
Intinction is generally discouraged for hygiene reasons, but at least if it does happen, the gluten free chalice would only have had gluten free wafers dipped in it.
Seems like we had a discussion about this recently.
We don’t have specific requirements regarding the ingredients of the bread (e.g., wheat flour and water only), so at our church we only use gluten free bread. We (denominationally) do have a requirement that if wine is used, there must be a non-alcoholic alternative available.
Not really a question, just a grumble. We are about to hit that delightful period (which comes along every three years) when the RCL delivers John chapter 6 for 5 weeks in a row. Given the RCL's noted predilection for chopping passages and omitting stuff left right and centre, it seems strange (and tedious) to get becalmed in John 6 for so long. How many different ways of preaching about Jesus being the bread of life can we really come up with? Of course, I can always preach from other passages (perhaps a mini-series from Ephesians) but I must admit that I feel sorry for the people in our congregations, who will probably be thinking "hang on - didn't we have this Gospel reading Last week? And the week before?"
Actually, that's not at all a bad idea, if it can be arranged!
I know for sure that the PTO retired Evangelical priest helping us out at the moment will have a quite different view from that of the PTO retired Anglo-Carflick priest who also helps out from time to time.
Mind you, both of these esteemed gentlemen would, I think, agree on the importance of the Eucharist....how they interpret that is another matter altogether.
I visited a former convent in a regional town and the Catholic church next to it has this consecration plaque: https://imgur.com/a/s8Nticj
The use of Pastor, rather than Priest, struck me. Was, is?, pastor in vogue at a time? Or is a Pastor in a Catholic Church different from a Priest? Thanks.
At least as used by Catholics around here, the pastor is the priest in charge of the parish. (Think “rector”or “vicar”in an Episcopal/Anglican context.) All pastors are priests, but not all priests are pastors.
Substitute “minister” for “priest,” and the same usage prevails in my tribe (PC(USA)).
I (being a liturgy nerd with a retentive memory for obscure facts) remember a 'notes and queries' comment in the Church Times (back in the 1960s) stating authoritatively that 'incense is used in three cathedrals'. I think I can remember which three but let's have a competition to guess.
Now it is rare to encounter a cathedral where it is never used. Some cathedrals (like Southwark, where despite a generally Catholic ethos the fragrant smoke was noticeably absent only a few years ago) now seem to use it every Sunday; more usually, it makes an appearance on high days and holidays. Perhaps Ecclesiantics spies can contribute to a list of [1] regularly fragrant, [2] fragrant for major feasts, [3] fragrant for special services of organisations like Walsingham supporters etc, and possibly Easter and/or Christmas, and [4] total ban on popish sights, sounds and smells.
It was really surprising to attend Christmas Day main service at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral to have no incense.
'If you want a cathedral we've got one to spare!' Plenty of incense the other end of Hope Street. But yes, that must have been a disappointing experience.
Oh, I'd attended the midnight mass at the other end of Hope Street, so had had my incense fix.
It was fascinating attending the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool as there was a full procession in which I'd have expected a thurifer. I'm used to midnight mass at my usual church(es) being obscured in clouds of incense, as a high mass, or Sunday service at ASMS which uses incense.
I (being a liturgy nerd with a retentive memory for obscure facts) remember a 'notes and queries' comment in the Church Times (back in the 1960s) stating authoritatively that 'incense is used in three cathedrals'. I think I can remember which three but let's have a competition to guess.
....
I remember going to worship at St. David's about 20 years ago and remarked to one of the sidespeople that incense hadn't been used. "Oh no", I was told, "We can't use it as it would set off the fire alarms".
On another thread, Bishop's Finger tangentially remarked:
I suspect incense is used more often these days in English cathedrals than was the case a generation ago.
Is it so, or do we carry him off to the dungeon for propagating Popish ways...?
And if so, what has caused the shift?
Certainly on my journey my exposure to Taizé in the early 1980s was the catalyst, and I suspect it's been the influence of Taizé that has driven much introduction of incense across the broad church.
I remember going to worship at St. David's about 20 years ago and remarked to one of the sidespeople that incense hadn't been used. "Oh no", I was told, "We can't use it as it would set off the fire alarms".
That was probably about the time I visited and was somewhat miffed that it was not possible to light a candle at the saint's shrine (or anywhere else for that matter). They probably used the same excuse.
This is a miscellaneous question which is sort of liturgical. Does anyone else get stricken with the yawns when saying the psalms alternately?
Well, no, because I consider alternation essential to avoid the yawns. We just had a glorious multiparish Evensong & Benediction on Sunday, and the only thing I'd change is that we chanted the psalms in unison throughout; I'd have had a cantor alternate with everyone. Thank goodness the organist contributed a sensitive and intepretive accompaniment.
Same goes for spoken recitation. Officiant vs. all, or side vs. other side, some sort of alternation, not slogging through in unison...that works only for a solo voice reciting the psalm as a poem.
When the Archdemon visits a moderately high CofE parish during a vacancy to preside and preach, is (s)he preceded in procession by churchwardens with staves, as the Bishop's delegate? It's also our Patronal Festival, so a big figure-of-eight procession is part of the plotline.
I've never known an Archdeacon (demonic or otherwise, male or female) treated as other than a simple (hah!) priest liturgically speaking. But I suppose it's your privilege if you want an excuse for a fancy procession.
Comments
Actually it's a good thing ... it's kept all the horror in one place
I guess it comes from vestment-makers realizing they could sell multiple mitres instead of just the traditional three or four.
The Church of England has, as in other areas, no rubrics or official directions concerning mitres, so bishops do what they see fit/what their chaplains persuade them of. This tends to mean the evangelicals often only seem to have one mitre, that matches their favourite cope. The more catholic minded bishops tend, like much of the more catholic minded part of the Church of England, to look to the RC rubrics, and so have the plain white, plain gold and maybe a 'precious' mitre; often with none of these specifically matching any vestments as they tend to only use their own when there is nothing suitable locally.
So maybe the growth in decorated mitres like these is another sign of the small battles (others might include use of the stole, candles, wafer bread) won over the 20th century by the catholic movement in the CofE, whilst arguably having lost the overall war. In this case, the winning of the battle of getting the bishop to wear a mitre, but lost any sense of the whys and wherefores...
nechurchsupplies.com/#/rochet-chimere/4545594512
Bishops I've seen in recent years have tended to sport plain white or gold mitres, along with the appropriate chasuble for the occasion. Our Diocesan, celebrating a Sunday Eucharist one day last year, didn't wear a mitre, as he was acting as a simple priest, IYSWIM.
Less=more.
IJ
Although some startling and jazzy vestments were designed for him (notably by Beryl Dean) the late Archbishop Runcie tended to prefer the plain - although standing a good 6' 2" perhaps he didn't feel the need to stand-out too much. But he even had the occasional lapse, like the silver horror (with matching mitre) he wore for the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Commonly worn here by Bishops at non-Eucharistic services - or even at those if in Sydney. They are usually called Convocation or Canterbury robes as a shorthand.
Your avatar as an example.
IJ
Intinction is generally discouraged for hygiene reasons, but at least if it does happen, the gluten free chalice would only have had gluten free wafers dipped in it.
We don’t have specific requirements regarding the ingredients of the bread (e.g., wheat flour and water only), so at our church we only use gluten free bread. We (denominationally) do have a requirement that if wine is used, there must be a non-alcoholic alternative available.
Yes, we did
We (a TEC shack):
We tend to have one or two gluten-free people on a typical Sunday, and a fairly even split between intincters and drinkers.
I know for sure that the PTO retired Evangelical priest helping us out at the moment will have a quite different view from that of the PTO retired Anglo-Carflick priest who also helps out from time to time.
Mind you, both of these esteemed gentlemen would, I think, agree on the importance of the Eucharist....how they interpret that is another matter altogether.
IJ
https://imgur.com/a/s8Nticj
The use of Pastor, rather than Priest, struck me. Was, is?, pastor in vogue at a time? Or is a Pastor in a Catholic Church different from a Priest? Thanks.
edit: as did the spelling "honor"
Substitute “minister” for “priest,” and the same usage prevails in my tribe (PC(USA)).
And if so, what has caused the shift?
Now it is rare to encounter a cathedral where it is never used. Some cathedrals (like Southwark, where despite a generally Catholic ethos the fragrant smoke was noticeably absent only a few years ago) now seem to use it every Sunday; more usually, it makes an appearance on high days and holidays. Perhaps Ecclesiantics spies can contribute to a list of [1] regularly fragrant, [2] fragrant for major feasts, [3] fragrant for special services of organisations like Walsingham supporters etc, and possibly Easter and/or Christmas, and [4] total ban on popish sights, sounds and smells.
It was fascinating attending the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool as there was a full procession in which I'd have expected a thurifer. I'm used to midnight mass at my usual church(es) being obscured in clouds of incense, as a high mass, or Sunday service at ASMS which uses incense.
Wakefield, for one, I'd think.
I'd hazard a guess that one Cathedral at which such Popish rubbish as 'incense' would NOT be used EVER is Bradford...
I await, with hope, the information that I am wrong!
IJ
or dressing gown
Certainly on my journey my exposure to Taizé in the early 1980s was the catalyst, and I suspect it's been the influence of Taizé that has driven much introduction of incense across the broad church.
That was probably about the time I visited and was somewhat miffed that it was not possible to light a candle at the saint's shrine (or anywhere else for that matter). They probably used the same excuse.
Carys
Well, no, because I consider alternation essential to avoid the yawns. We just had a glorious multiparish Evensong & Benediction on Sunday, and the only thing I'd change is that we chanted the psalms in unison throughout; I'd have had a cantor alternate with everyone. Thank goodness the organist contributed a sensitive and intepretive accompaniment.
Same goes for spoken recitation. Officiant vs. all, or side vs. other side, some sort of alternation, not slogging through in unison...that works only for a solo voice reciting the psalm as a poem.
Is it always when you're reciting the petition for deliverance? Because if so...