Clergy can dress down in the pulpit

CENTURIES of tradition were overturned by the Church of England yesterday as it allowed vicars to conduct even the most solemn services in jeans, shell suits or football shirts.

Rules on the vestments clergy must wear were relaxed to bring the Church into step with worshippers – just weeks after male MPs were told they no longer need to wear ties in the Commons.

The Bishop of St Albans, the Right Reverend Alan Smith, said ancient robing laws had to keep up with ‘fast-changing culture’. But some clerics at the General Synod warned that relaxed clergy dress could lead to examples of bad taste.

Vicars can dress casually during services if they get the agreement of parish representatives and their bishop.

However, Leeds cleric Paul Ayers said priests should dress in line with the expectations of churchgoers, many of whom want to see traditional robes.

He told the Synod: ‘If it says Church of England on the label, it ought to be Church of England in the bottle.’