Plan for a Modern Chancel and Chapel

Originally uploaded by Aristibule.

An appropriate design, one can see the plan of the chancel and choir within the rood screen easily.

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Index to Plan

(The first bay only of the Nave is shown. A Transept room is suggested at the south transept, as a subsidiary church room, suitable for general purposes, for a tea-room, for classes or other meetings, and suitable also for Sunday Kindergarten -- when the Nave would be occupied by the Great, and the Choir Vestry by the Little Catechism, or their equivalants. The Choir Vestry, with its Platform and Aisle, would be used for the Easter Vestry and other large meetings.)

Numbers represent steps.
1,2,3. (Under Rood Screen) Chancel steps.
4. (In Sanctuary) Communion step.
x. x. Standard candlesticks.
T,T. Usual position of Taperers (o o, their candlesticks.)

The below figures show the usual position of the ministers.
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5. Subdeacon's step.
6. Deacon's step.
CL. Position of Clerk.
7. Foot-pace.
L. Lectern.
P. Pulpit.
CC. Cupboard for children's material.
a,b,c. Servers' cupboards for Albes, &c.
d. Sacristan's store cupboard.
f. Churchwardens' cupboard for books.
V. Verger's cupboard.
e. Parson's cupboard for Cassocks, &c.
g. CUpboard for Surplices and Albes.

In Priest's Vestry, a press, with drawers, under the window.
3. In Chapel, foot-pace.
N. In Chapel, normal position of Server.
2. In Chapel, communion step.
h. In Chapel, Credence.
S. In Chapel, Sedile for minister.


From "The Parson's Handbook" 12th edition, Percy Dearmer, Oxford University Press, London, 1932.

An English Chancel - Inside the Rood Screen

Originally uploaded by Aristibule.

The inside of the Altar, behind the Rood Screen, in an English parish church. The decorated roof is the canopy over the altar - note the East window as well. On the northern wall is the aumbry (tabernacle). The long English altar, three steps up, riddel and dossal curtains with iconographic work (probably emroidered) four candles on the riddel posts, two candles on the altar according to the Medieval Roman use. The Sedalia (seats for the ministers) is on the south wall. The two candlesticks upon the pavement are called 'Standards'.

A very appropriate and simply space designed for the worship of the True God.

Choir Habit of a Degreed English Priest

Originally uploaded by Aristibule.

Another example - the Choir Habit of the English old Catholic / Anglo-Catholic / Orthodox Anglican tradition. The Hood and Tippet are actually part of one garment - the appropriate hood is worn according to the degree held (BTh, MDiv, MTh, DD, DMin, etc.) One can see the ecclesiastical origin of the Western Academic dress here clearly as the original universities, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh were all Seminaries.

The Sarum Cassock is not clear in this case. However, one can see the wide sleeves of the Surplice which is variously called Old English, Medieval, or Warham Guild style. It is thought by some to be a type of alb, possibly from the old Gallican Alb of the early Western church (an unbelted voluminous white linen garment) - a more abbreviated form is variously called Anglican or Benedictine, and the extremely abbreviated form with lace is the Roman style (with a square yoke, and extreme abbreviation, one has the Cotta .. a similar garment.)

This is what a priest would wear praying the Divine Office or Hours (Morningsong, Evensong - Matins, Lauds, Prime, Vespers, Compline, etc.)

English Clergy Habit

Originally uploaded by Aristibule.

An example of the priest's street clothes in the tradition of the Anglo-Catholic or English old Catholic (Orthodox Anglican) tradition. The Sarum cassock is similar to the Byzantine, the Anglo-Saxon gown rather like the Ryassa, the Canterbury cap the older form of clerical headgear somewhat like a skophia or kamilavki. The tippet is a scarf, a portion of the 'hood' and not a stole of any sort. The cincture in this case is of a sash-type, leather belts are also worn.