Red vestments in Whitsuntide

Presented in this post during the Pentecost Octave is the Saint Bede Studio's Saint Martin chasuble, which is our own contemporary interpretation of the ancient form of Roman chasuble.  These vestments are extremely ample, but not shaped like a sack and so they sit well on the celebrant, flowing gracefully and gathering in beautiful folds.  

Usually, we ornament the Saint Martin chasuble in the Roman style, being a Tau ornament in the front and a column at the back, formed from braids and contrasting damask.  The vestments can be made in a variety of qualities of fabric in all the Liturgical colours, and can be lined or  unlined. 

This particular set of Saint Martin vestments, made for a returning customer, are quite simple in design, but splendid in appearance. A rich-red shade of dupion silk  was used for the ground fabric, with a strongly-contrasting lining in blue taffeta.  Untypically, the vestments are ornamented in the Gothic manner, rather than the Roman manner, with one of the Studio's unique braids Saint Chad, a design directly based on the work of AWN Pugin.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Vestments in the style "Saint Philip Neri"

Presented in this post is The Saint Bede Studio's own interpretation of that style of chasuble commonly found in Italy in the 16th and early 17th centuries, and often depicted in representations of Saint Philip Neri. It is the chasuble known to the Council of Trent and its Popes. 

Such chasubles are of moderate length, but reaching only to the elbows. The ornamentation of these vestments is arranged in the Roman style, being a Tau ornament in the front and a column at the back. This vestment has become very popular with those priests who like the Roman style, but do not feel comfortable in that unhappy form of chasuble nick-named The Fiddleback. The Saint Philip Neri chasuble is made by the Studio in a variety of fabric qualities, in all the Liturgical colours and is fully-lined.

This particular set of vestments was made for a customer in the United Kingdom.  There were made from a brocade of pure silk in a muted shade of gold.   A silk brocade in colours of terracotta and old gold was used to ornament the vestments, outlined in the Roman manner with a braid straw-gold in colour.  The lining was of red taffeta.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Purchasing Quality Vestments in times of Fiscal Constraint

Good-quality vestments, especially if they are handmade and use silk fabrics, are quite costly.  Indeed, they always have been.  Some years ago, on a website, was found a strategy for being able to afford a vestment which seems too expensive.  It may be useful for readers.  It goes something like this...

Father had his heart set on a particular set of vestments, but didn't have the money to purchase them. The Parish had many commitments and could not justify making such a purchase. But the Parish did buy them and then they were put on display in the Church, with this sign:

"These new vestments were recently purchased. When we have raised enough money to cover their cost, they will be used at the Altar.  Until then, they are only for display."

It didn't take too long for the money to be raised for the vestments to be used for Mass and more besides; in fact, enough for another set to be purchased! The Parish loves the vestments and loves to see Father wearing them for Mass.

There is another facet of this story which many priests will be familiar with : the Faithful appreciate being asked to contribute to the beautification of their Parish church and its Sacred Liturgy. After all, it is the Faithful who look at the vestments worn by the priest. Is it not natural to wish to look at things of beauty?

Enquiries with the Saint Bede Studio : This page. 

Whitsunday 2022

On this Whitsunday, we wish to feature this set of red vestments, completed for a returning Canadian customer, in the Saint Philip Neri style.

The vestments are extremely simple in design, but glowing in appearance, flame-like. A red and straw-coloured ecclesiastical brocade was used for these vestments, ornamented in the Roman manner with an old braid in colours of straw-gold and red and lined in red taffeta.

Please click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

On the Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth

Regnans gloriose

Almighty God, we pray for your servant Elizabeth our Queen, 

now by your mercy reigning over us. 

Adorn her yet more with every virtue, remove all evil from her path; 

that with all the Royal family she may come in grace to you, who are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.

Saint Martin Chasuble

For an esteemed returning customer in the United States, the Studio prepared a set of vestments shewn in the adjacent photographs in our Saint Martin style.

The Saint Martin chasuble is the Saint Bede Studio's own contemporary interpretation of the ancient form of Roman vestment.  It is extremely ample.  The ornamentation of these vestments is arranged in the Roman style, being a Tau ornament in the front and a column at the back, formed from braids and contrasting damask.  The vestments can be made in a variety of qualities of fabric in all the Liturgical colours.

This dignified set was made from dupion silk in a subtle shade of gold and lined in red taffeta.  It was ornamented with brighter red dupion silk and one of the Studio's unique braids, called Saint George.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : This page. 

Saint Bede the Venerable

Greetings to all readers of this Blog on this Feast of Saint Bede the Venerable, monk of Jarrow (UK) and first historian of the Church in England.  

Read a little about the life and work of Saint Bede here.

The Saint Bede Studio, which takes its name from the English monk, is a small enterprise but continues to receive large numbers of enquiries each year. Please say a prayer for God's Blessing on the work of the Studio and the good health of its staff.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Priestly Ordinations 2021 : 6

In this post, we are pleased to describe a set of vestments in the Saint Bede Studio's Saint Benet style, which was commissioned by an ordinand from Canada.

These Gothic Revival vestments were made from an ecclesiastical brocade in a lovely shade of ivory, and ornamented with the Studio's unique braids.  The wider braid illustrated is called Saint George and is derived from an orphrey designed by the famed English Gothic Revivalist A.W.N. Pugin. The lining of these vestments was formed from a deep red shade of taffeta.

Please pray for all newly-ordained priests.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : This page.

Priestly Ordinations 2021 : 5

In this post, we are pleased to describe a set of vestments in the Saint Bede Studio's Saint Austin style, which was commissioned by an ordinand from the United States.

These Gothic Revival vestments were made from an ecclesiastical brocade in a lovely shade of ivory, and ornamented with the Studio's unique braids.  The braid illustrated is called Saint Chad and is derived from an orphrey designed by the famed English Gothic Revivalist A.W.N. Pugin. The lining of these vestments was formed from a crimson shade of taffeta.

Please pray for all newly-ordained priests.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : This page.

Orphrey braids of the Saint Bede Studio

Each year, the Saint Bede Studio adds to its range of orphrey braids.  We are working on the development of some new braids for production in 2022.  Most of our braids are derived from precedents, either Gothic Revival or Mediaeval. They are never merely copies, but always have original touches to enhance the diversity of their use.  

These unique braids are designed by the Studio and only used in conjunction with our vestments. They are not commercially available, nor available to any other vestment makers and are reserved under international copyright. *

The braids shewn in the adjacent image are used for orphreys in both the Gothic and Roman  styles of vestments designed and made by the Studio.

A key to the illustrated braids :

1. Maria Regina
2. English Rose
3. Saint Columba
4. Chi Rho
5. Saint James
6. Stella
7. Saint Marie
8. Saint Austin
9. Welbye
10. Saint George
11. Saint Edmund (green/red)
12. Salisbury
13. Saint Edmund (silver/red)
14. Saint Chad (green/red)
15. Saint Giles
16. Rosa Antiqua
17. Lux Aeterna
18. Saint Dunstan
19. Saint Chad (blue/red).

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com


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* This measure has been necessary because of an unpleasant experience in which a manufacturer misappropriated one of the Studio's unique designs and then sold it for his own commercial gain.