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.


Saturday 11 December 2021

Boy Bishops


This being Advent and the week that has seen the feast of St Nicholas it is also the season for Boy Bishops to enter into their responsibilities.

The New Liturgical Movement has a post about the custom and about the installation of one such at the school at Chavagnes in France. A priest friend of mine was a pupil there, though I do not know if he ever attained to the status of being Boy Bishop.

The illustrated post can be seen at A Boy-Bishop for the Feast of St Nicholas. 

I am however somewhat sorry to see that the Boy Bishop’s mitre is red to match his cope rather than the correct colour for all mitres, which is either white ( or similar such as ivory ) or gold, and with appropriate decoration. However it is good to see the custom being practised.

Last year I posted about this traditional  custom in Boy Bishops which has some more Illustrations of modern boy bishops.


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)