There are many special garments worn by the clergy, lay ministers and others.
The most common special article of clothing is the 'clerical collar' which is worn by priests and deacons when they are acting in their official capacities. The priests on the London docks needed a way to identify themselves as clergy during the late 18th Century. They began to wear white scarves around their necks, which evolved into the collar worn by most Anglican clergy today.
When services are held in church, all those involved in leading the service except the Lay Reader are vested, that is wearing special garments to set them apart. The practice of wearing special clothes is based on the garments worn by Aaron and his sons and all the later Levitical priests in the Old Testament. (Exodus 28)
Our young Acolytes wear red cassocks (a special type of robe) with a white surplice over them.
Our adult Acolytes, Cantor, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and Lay Worship Leaders wear black cassocks with a white surplice.
Our Organist wears a burgundy cassock with a white surplice.
Our priest wears an alb-cassock. The alb is a long, plain white garment worn over everyday clothes is accordance with St. Jerome's (341-420 CE) directions that a special "suit of clean clothes" be worn for conducting services. The alb (from the Latin for white) symbolizes purity and joy. It is tied around the waist with a rope girdle called a cincture.
When Holy Eucharist is celebrated, the priest wears a chasuble. This is a round, tent-like covering with a hole cut in the center for the head. Its origins may be from the garment called the laena worn by the flamen dialis, the most set-apart of the pagan priests of ancient Rome. Like the laena, the chasuble declares the Episcopal priest to be set apart from the mundane world.
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