Margery Roberts - Church Linen, Vestments and Textiles: A practical guide to their use and care

Church Linen, Vestments and Textiles

Margery Roberts

Illustrations by Nicholas Elder

Published in association with

THE SOCIETY OF THE FAITH

Copyright in this volume The Society of the Faith, 2015

First published in 2015 by the Canterbury Press Norwich

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978 1 84825 740 5

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Contents

The Society of the Faith

The Society of the Faith is a small charity founded in 1905 by two high-churchmen, the Reverend Canon J. A. Douglas, Vicar of St Lukes Camberwell, and his brother, the Reverend C. E. Douglas.

The Douglas brothers were committed to the catholic tradition within the Church of England. The Society they founded was to be an Association of Christians in communion with the See of Canterbury for mutual assistance in the work of Christs Church and for the furtherance of such charitable undertakings as may from time to time be decided upon, more especially for the popularisation of the Catholic faith.

The Societys first work was the printing of Sunday School stamps, which proved immensely popular. This success inspired the foundation of Faith Press, publishing books both scholarly and popular, as well as church music.

In 1916 the Society also founded Faith Craft to produce high-quality vestments and church furnishings. Their biggest single commission was the complete refurbishment of St Mary-le-Bow in London after the Second World War.

The Douglas brothers lived on into the 1950s. Times (and tastes) were beginning to change, and this eventually led to the closure of both Faith Press and Faith Craft in 1973. However, The Society of the Faith remains committed to its original objectives: seeking to promote good standards in publishing and church furnishing, and in theological education.

Recent co-publications in association with the Canterbury Press include Michael Yeltons Anglican Papalism (2005), Paula Gooders The Meaning is in the Waiting (2008), and John Gunstones Lift High the Cross: Anglo-Catholics and the Congress Movement (2010). In 2013, in association with Church House Publishing, the Society brought out Canon Robert Reisss book The Testing of Vocation: 100 years of ministry selection in the Church of England .

Since 1935 the Society has held the lease of Faith House, 7 Tufton Street, Westminster. Faith House is currently home to the church furnishers Watts & Company, the National Churches Trust, Sion College and Open Europe.

Foreword

by the Bishop of Southwark

The care of church linen and vestments is an important service, yet one that is often unnoticed, save by the priest and those serving at the altar of God. On the riverside of Southwark Cathedral stands the Livery Hall that is the home of the Worshipful Company of Launderers. By the standards of the City of London, it is a rather new Company, but the Launderers flourish under a motto that is far older: Cleanliness is next to Godliness. It is a phrase that resonates with a powerful familiarity and asserts a timeless truth on which many generations have been raised.

If indeed cleanliness is next to godliness then how vital it is that proper care is taken of those things we place under, around or near holy things. These include the vestments that we wear as well as such everyday items as cassocks, surplices and albs. On my first day in residence at Theological College, the Principal addressed the new intake and exhorted us never to become overfamiliar with holy things. Our care for the things of God needs to be reverent and prayerful, offered with gladness and joy. It is good to have a high doctrine of such things, for the quality of the care we take to prepare well for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament sets the standard and makes visible our priorities. Linen and vestments that are well cared for speak of our attentiveness to holy things as part of our offering of worship and praise to Almighty God.

I am grateful to Margery Roberts and The Society of the Faith for the issue of this helpful book which contains much practical wisdom and advice, together with cheerful drawings by Fr Nicholas Elder, Vicar of St Georges Camberwell in the Diocese of Southwark. I commend it to you as a valuable resource in sacristies and vestries throughout the Church, whatever the parish tradition might be, in particular to those who undertake the quiet ministry of ensuring the good order of church linen and vestments.

+Christopher Southwark

Introduction

In 1932, the Faith Press published a booklet called Altar Linen: its care and use by Warren Richards. This useful publication was revised and reprinted several times before the Faith Press was wound up in the 1970s by its parent body, The Society of the Faith.

Although copies of the booklet still lurk in church vestries around the country, it has become apparent that there is now a substantial demand for a completely new practical guide, not only to the care of church linen, but also to the use and care of vestments. In the 80 years since the original booklet was produced, there have been notable changes in liturgy and styles of worship; but, in my experience of the Church of England as administrator, churchwarden, acolyte and subdeacon, I have not come across a parish that does not use at least some linen and textiles in its services or does not expect high standards of neatness and cleanliness.

This short guide gives advice about how to wash, starch, fold or otherwise care for the main items used at the altar, as well as briefly describing their use. The original format has been expanded to include information about vestments and garments, plus detailed advice about cleaning and storage. Although I have, in the interests of clarity and uniformity, used expressions or descriptions that might be identified with certain church traditions (for example, altar instead of Holy Table), my hope is that all parishes will find the guidance helpful, straightforward and eirenical. Space has been left on the pages of text for users own notes.

Warmest thanks are due to the Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, for his encouraging foreword, and to the Reverend Nicholas Elder for his excellent drawings. Of those who have contributed suggestions and comments, I must particularly thank Dr Arthur Waters for checking my science and the directors and staff of Watts and Company Ltd for their expert knowledge of linen and vestments.

Margery Roberts