Vicars defrocked! Fears of jeans and hoodies in pulpit as Synod votes to decide if clergy's robes are surplice to requirements

Never mind the cassocks – vicars could soon be conducting services in shell-suits, shorts or even football shirts under radical plans to overturn centuries of Church tradition. Rules requiring the clergy to don traditional vestments are set to be swept aside as part of a ‘makeover’ designed to make services more relevant to modern congregations. If the Church of England Synod approves the reforms, vicars could wear whatever they deem appropriate for all their services – including weddings, baptisms and funerals. Although most are likely to favour smart jackets, some have indicated they would adopt a ‘dress-down Sunday’ approach.

The proposals, drawn up by a London vicar, the Rev Christopher Hobbs, have already garnered the support of about a quarter of the Synod, who will debate the issue in February. But conservatives warn that changes would dilute the identity and authority of the Church.

The Rev Andrew Atherstone, a senior theologian, welcomed the move, saying that garments such as cassocks and surplices were a relic from a ‘bygone age’ and a form of ‘power dressing’ that was a barrier to getting the Church’s message across. Keep reading

I do not believe that vicars wearing too casual attire on Sunday mornings will be a problem if this much needed reform is implemented. Nor do I believe that the Church of England will lose its identity and authority. The churches that are seeing the most growth here in the United States are the churches where the pastors do not wear traditional vesture. From what I understand, this is also the case in the United Kingdom, including evangelical Anglican churches where traditional vesture is kept to a minimum.