Vestment Quest Part 1

Categories: college, shopping, church

Tags: vestments, wippells

Date: 24 January 2009 22:34:58

So... my ordination is coming up in the summer.* This means that I have to take steps to look like a clergyperson. This means that I have to buy vicaring clothes or vestments as they are commonly known. My lovely friend Ellen prefers to call them the 'special clothes', which I think just about takes the right tone.

There are a number of considerations to bear in mind.


  1. The C of E gives a grant to cover (quoting from memory here) 'vestments, books and other necessary items for ministry'.

  2. There are a lot of books I want to buy

  3. I do not want to look like I am wearing a tent

  4. If I dress entirely in black and white, at certain times of year I look rather ill


I need various items:

Now as in many aspects of life, there are various emporia from which such items can be purchased. I do not wish to denigrate other companies by naming them the Lidl or Aldi of the clerical outfitting world. But let us just say that if J&M and Cross Designs are the Sainsburys and Waitrose, then Wippells is the Fortnum and Mason. From the experience of last year's ordinands, Wippells have the reputation of having superb customer service and very high standards. On the down side, they cost a tad more. On the up side, they were visiting college when I was starting to panic that I had missed a lot of the outfitters when I was ill. The result of this was that I ordered the cassock, surplice, cassock alb and a girdle (length of rope for belt - very necessary in the not wanting to look like wearing a tent stakes).

They are being bespoke made. I have never had anything bespoke made before. Even my wedding dress was a slightly altered off the peg number. I will have to travel to one of their branches at some point for a fitting. Photos may be forthcoming if you ask me very nicely.

Marvellous! The quest has got off to a good start. More will follow.

* Hurrahs and general rejoicing all round