Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday 6 April 2010

Bad Vestments

Now those of you who know me, or even those of you who pass a cursory look down the sites listed on the side bar, will have little doubt as to my views on the all-important ecclesiastical question of tat. Let's face it so often that is what we afficionados sit around discussing in the Bird and Baby or wherever. In these discussions - profound and serious as they are (and I'm not joking) one rarely comments on bad-tat, being beneath our notice, but this afternoon whilst working on this blog I found a link to Bad Vestments.

Now being the man I am (yes, sadistic) I thought I would share these images with you, as a sort of Easter offering, to bring a little additional mirth into this already joyous season - and for future reference have added it as a link on the sidebar. There are some specimens therein that are not merely bad, but super-bad, or even meta-bad.

As far as I can see most, but not all, of these vestments are being worn by prelates and clergy of ECUSA - yes, the dear old ECUSA of our brethren on the other side of the Atlantic. However some are being worn here in England. Let us not also forget the dreadful things inflicted on His Holiness in Austria at Mariazell - but then I think those were the final liturgical nail in the career coffin of the previous Papal Master of Ceremonies.

As they would doubtless say in ECUSA "Enjoy!"

2 comments:

Gabriella said...

Thanks, that was fantastic - still can't stop laughing! Especially at the 'first aid' one! LOL

ps: Love the title of your blog :)

Anonymous said...

superb link, thanks x