Monday, January 22, 2007

Catholic bishops have prettier dresses than Anglican ones.

I can’t help but think that there might have been more that I should have got out of the service last night ;-)

It was the Commissioning service for Regenerate which is a mission into Reading, where all churches, all denominations, are involved. We’re going to run a summer barbeque for our neighbours as a thank you for the way they put up with us parking in front of all their houses and causing parking chaos once a week.

What amused me about the service was spotting the stereotypes that churches, particularly ministers slot into. The Catholic priests all looked smart in their still black suits. They all gave the impression of having washed behind their ears especially for the occasion and were hunting in packs. The Anglicans and Baptists however – I don’t think I’ve ever seen beards like them in the Catholic Church, and on the most part a black suit really meant a dodgy grey, and they were to be found wandering about by themselves looking a little lost and chatting to anyone they found. All a bit bizaare.

People from various churches were harder to identify. Apart from the Salvation Army. The Uniform really does give them away…

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ooooh there's some denominational stereotyping! Still, it reminds me of Alistair's installation service at his new parish. There were all the local anglican priests in their standard gear. It wasn't hard to play spot the non-anglicans, what with Stephen in his lace cassock and Gareth in jet black with cloak.