Fearing that the Anglican Communion does not have enough controversy, division and dissent, I must ask you to respond to the following questions:
Gaiters – yes or no?
Gaiters on Provosts (or Cathedral Deans) – yes or no?
Gaiters on this Provost – yes or no?
The picture on Bishop David’s blog will provide you with all the preliminary material you need in the first instance. The PhD on gaiters is here. Of course, this is not the first time we have dealt with Praepostorial Footwear.
Kelvin, it’s ‘lead us not into temptation’ either way.
Good ankles and fine legs = distraction, lust or covetousness
Bad ankles and chicken legs = distraction, unkind laughter or self-righteous pride (either: ‘I would never do that’ Or: ‘ah, but if I wore gaiters…’)
I do fear that a chilly Calvinist wind has blown up the Clyde from Mother Dunoon.
How on earth did a question about gaiters lead to worrying lest we fall victim to lust, pride and covetousness?
Or was it the talk of my ankles?
1. Gaiters in the appropriate time and the appropriate place.
2. How very Derek Nimmo.
3. If you must BUT they must be co-ordinated with the Cope of Glory.
I’m sure like me you would agree, Kelvin, that the high point of Scottish Episcopalianism was in a period of about 70 years after the mid-1830s. It will therefore come as no surprise to you that the same period saw the high watermark of gaiter-wearing within the Church. Ergo there is no doubt an indissoluble connection between the wearing of the aforesaid garments and growth in catholic mission and evangelism. “Bring ’em back,” along with the rose high mass sets (and spectacles), that’s what I say!
I think that there is perhaps a danger that Stewart has mixed up gaiters and buskins. (Buskins are worn according to the colour of the day. Gaiters come in black or purple if you are entitled, and so far no-one commenting is so entitled).
I’m inclined to agree broadly with David Campbell’s analysis. However, so far, I have dedicated myself merely to exploring the missiological significance of the cope.
The more you wear the Cope of Glory on the highways and the byways (and the catwalks) of the town, the more people come to church.
Anyone else feel that there should be a special section in the current mission review on such topics?
I may never have seen clerical gaiters on a real-life priest, but I have seen the bowler hat and cane, and the frock coat worn to general ridicule by all and sundry. While I don’t think much of the jeans-under-alb routine either, there must be a sensible compromise somewhere?
Unless it’s for fancy dress purposes – or on a woman perhaps?
Gaiters on female ankles, Christina? Of course. Feminist gaiter wearing.
Remember, gentle reader, you saw it here first.
Hi Kelvin, i’m with the others on this, no Gaiters Please.
For Kilts you need not only to have shapely ankles and calves, but, also knees, and where would all this end? With a frock coat and biretta. And no women in gaiters, they might end up looking like Nora Batty.
Buskins are too much like sandals for my liking, and definitely not for the Cathedral.
As for the Biretta, on when snow is lying. Given the weather today I suggest that Kelvin keeps it on standby for tomorrow morning.
No doubt the Sacristan will ensure it is passed to you at the appropriate point (failing them, the MC might be prevailed upon).
Sorry – been off for a helicopter ride (effect of all this hot air? No – that’d be a balloon). Anyway, to the Dean of Argyll: I was being certain about the current incumbent. His predecessor had no such inhibitions about kilts. Or red socks.