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Of Episcopal Clobber

Hookers_TrickHookers_Trick Admin Emeritus
in Ecclesiantics
Where did the fashion for prelates wearing violet clerical shirts originate, and when? US Anglican bishops almost always take to the purple, English ones mostly purple with some opting for black (the more Anglo-Catholic ones perhaps leaning to black clerical shirts?).

I suspect this has something to do with purple episcopal cassocks, and wonder when that fashion originated? Archbishops Lang and Temple are both portrayed in purple cassocks in portraits, so at least as far back as the early C20...

Comments

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    The late Bishop of Connor Samuel Poyntz, used to wear purple socks with sandals in the summer (along with an episcopal purple shirt).
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    It used to be said that purple silk underpants were a thing.
  • angloidangloid Shipmate
    Alan29 wrote: »
    It used to be said that purple silk underpants were a thing.

    But mostly worn by ambitious lesser clerics, if rumour is to be believed.
  • angloidangloid Shipmate
    Hookers_Trick wrote: »
    English ones mostly purple with some opting for black (the more Anglo-Catholic ones perhaps leaning to black clerical shirts?).

    This is probably true, though it seems counterintuitive: one might expect austere evangelicals preferring black. Apart from ++Justin Welby, most evangelical bishops, as well as MOTR ones, seem to go for purple. Perhaps it's because RC bishops normally wear black shirts that many anglo-catholic ones do.

  • DoublethinkDoublethink Admin, 8th Day Host
    You might enjoy this.

    Also, purple silk underpants are definitely a thing.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    I noticed Lutheran bishops started wearing purple clericals in the mid 70s, but we are usually a few years later following Anglican fashions.
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