Clergy may 'dress down' after CofE relaxes rules on vestments

Clergy in the Church of England are to be allowed to "defrock" themselves after moves to liberalise the law on vestments were approved.

The General Synod meeting in York backed a proposal to allow clergy to "dress down" at services and exchange the robes and other vestments worn at Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion for more casual clothing.

Already, many clergy, especially evangelicals and some liberals, eschew clerical collars and other more formal clerical outfits for plain trousers and shirts, with or without ties, especially at non-eucharistic services. But technically, they are currently in breach of Canon law. Keep reading