Give us our daily threads: clergy can now wear jeans and trainers

CLERGY have been given the go-ahead to ditch their robes and dress down for services after a vote by the Church’s General Synod.

Priests should be allowed flexibility to wear what they want to make the church more accessible and relevant to the modern world, members said.

This means that Church of England clergy are now officially allowed to lead services in casual clothing such as jeans and trainers.

The changes would help the Church by “reflecting the way society has gone in the way of informality”, said the Rev Alistair Mchaffie, a vicar in Leyland, Blackburn. He added that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, had led the charge by wearing unorthodox footwear to the York-based synod.

Mr Mchaffie said: “Years ago the Archbishop of Canterbury would wear

sensible black shoes at General Synod – and I’ve noticed this weekend our Archbishop is wearing a pair of blue trainers.”

However, the Archbishop protested that they were in fact “walking shoes”.

During a debate on the motion members said they had been concerned that the new freedoms could lead clergy into “foolish” behaviour.

Luke Miller, Archdeacon of London, said: “I had concerns because I felt that there were moments perhaps where themed weddings might have suddenly imposed.

“I heard stories of a priest who was asked to wear a purple stole at a wedding – those of you who don’t do coloured dressing up in church should know that that’s the sort of thing worn at a funeral most of the time – because purple was the colour that the bridesmaids would be wearing.”

However, clauses which specified that clothing must be “suitable for a minister of the Church of England ministering divine service” had allayed concerns.

Another member, Bill Braviner, a Stockton-based vicar, implored clergy to consider the needs of congregants who would prefer to see their priest in robes. “I would just make a plea for clergy who prefer not to robe to be open to robing when it is best for the mission of the church,” he said.