What range of vestments does a young priest need ?

The Saint Bede Studio is often asked what a newly-ordained priest needs in the way of vestments, so I present these recommendations, based on years of experience and observation.  

Ideally, of course, a young priest would own a set of vestments in the Liturgical colours of white, green, red and violet.  Every priest ought to have a set available in these colours.  

He needs a chasuble, stole and chalice veil.  Whatever about liturgical requirements or permissions, it is unseemly to dispense with the chalice veil for the celebration of Mass.

Some additional points :

If it can be afforded, a priest should have two sets in different shades of the liturgical colours.  A congregation often appreciates seeing some variety in the vestments that are used.  Remember, it is the congregation which is looking at the vestments during Mass, not the priest wearing them.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

On this noble Feast of the Church's year, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present a set of red vestments in the Gothic Revival Style.  The vestments were made from a rich shade of English ecclesiastical brocade and lined in taffeta of a brass-gold colour.   

The ornament was formed from one of the Studio's unique braids Saint Giles in colours of burgundy and straw-gold, upon red.  These vestments are simple in their ornamentation, but striking.  There is no need here for fine embroideries, but the effect is created with strong colours and contrasts : the hallmark of the work of the Saint Bede Studio.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Festal dalmatic

In this post is depicted an elegant festal dalmatic made by the Studio for an Australian customer to match a set of Low Mass vestments. 

The dalmatic is made from ecclesiastical brocade and fully lined in a rich golden taffeta. In this instance, the choice was made to ornament the dalmatic with a Gothic Revival orphrey braid in colours of red and gold.  

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is distinctive for its artistic qualities and the pains taken with every detail, such as the alignment of ornaments.  Even a restrained set of vestments like this is striking for its combination of colours and fine workmanship.

 

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Purple Gothic Revival Vestments

In this post, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present this set of penitential vestments.  

This dignified set of vestments is in the Gothic style, a particular variant we call Saint Giles, being a more ample cut of chasuble.

The vestments were made from ecclesiastical brocade in a brighter shade of purple.  Lined in a shade of crimson-red taffeta, the vestments were ornamented with one of the Studio's unique braids.  This geometric braid named Saint Austin we have used with great success in all the liturgical colours.  It is directly based on a design by AWN Pugin.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

 Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Enquiries.

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG  

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On this beautiful Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are pleased to present these images of one of the Studio's most popular sets of vestments, which we call Ave Maris Stella.  This is made in various Gothic styles and from different fabrics, but always and is ornamented with the now-familiar braid.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

We should describe this braid, for those who have not followed previous posts closely.  It employs two shades of blue, one a sky blue, the other Royal Blue and upon these two colours, the ornamental design is figured in (non-metallic) gold.

Within a Royal blue quatrefoil (four-leafed flower) is a stylised monogram being the letters MR.  This is the Latin abbreviation of Maria Regina (Mary the Queen).  It was very typical in the Mediaeval period for such monograms to appear as decorative schemes in churches and upon vestments. 

These quatrefoils alternate with another emblem, which is upon a light blue base.  Here is a crown emphasising the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin.  Below it, in heraldic lettering, is the greeting AVE.  From this is derived the name of this braid and based on the beautiful Marian antiphon Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea).

Running along either side of this orphrey is a row of smaller quatrefoils in gold, upon the Royal Blue base.

Although not directly-based on the work of the Gothic designer AWN Pugin, this Ave Maris Stella braid incorporates Puginesque elements.  No matter whether you shop for your vestments in Poland, India, England or America, you will not find another braid like Ave Maris Stella.  It is just one of the Saint Bede Studio's unique braids, designed by the writer of this blog and made exclusively for the Studio's use.

Click on the images for an enlarged view. 

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Enquiries.

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

A further set of red vestments

The Studio is pleased to present this image of a set of Gothic Revival vestments.  

The set was made from dupion silk in a fiery-red and lined in a very muted shade of gold.  The vestments were ornamented with a geometric braid unique to the Saint Bede Studio, which we call Salisbury.  It is based on an old design and is woven in the colours of red, burgundy and straw-gold.

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is distinctive for its artistic qualities and the pains taken with every detail, such as the alignment of ornaments.  Even a simple vestment like this is striking for its combination of colours and fine workmanship.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Vestments for Masses of the Holy Spirit

In this post we are pleased to present this image of a set of brighter red vestments, suitable for those Masses of the Holy Spirit.  

The set was made from ecclesiastical brocade in a fiery combination of red and straw-gold and lined in a matching shade of red.  The vestments were ornamented in the Roman style, with a TAU at the front and a column at the back, formed from an outlining galloon. 

 

The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-designed imitations!

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is distinctive for its artistic qualities and the pains taken with every detail, such as the alignment of ornaments.  Even a restrained set of vestments like this is striking for its combination of colours and fine workmanship.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Priestly Ordinations 2026

To readers of this Blog :

If you are considering obtaining a set of vestments for yourself or as a gift for Ordinations in 2026 ...

  NOW 

is the time to make an enquiry with the Saint Bede Studio.  Our schedule of commissions for 2026 is nearly full; please be in touch without delay.  Next week will be too late !

This is our last notice on this subject.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

The Feast of S' Gregory the Great

The vestments in this post were made from an ecclesiastical brocade in bright white and fully-lined in a muted gold taffeta.  The vestments are in the Gothic Revival style and the combination of colours has been found very attractive by our customers.

The vestments are ornamented with one of the Studio's braids, being a replica of a design by AWN Pugin; this braid is augmented by a narrow galloon running alongside it and in the same colours of brighter red and old gold.  Notice how these braids are arranged : the greatest care is taken with all our vestments to ensure that braids are precisely and harmoniously aligned, not cutting away design elements.  

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Borromeon Festal vestments

In this post we are pleased to present this beautiful set of Festal vestments.  These vestments were made from a silk damask with a gold figured design on an ivory background. 

Fully-lined in a shade of dark red taffeta, the chasuble is ornamented with a unique braid of the Studio, Saint Columba.  A galloon of straw-gold outlines the TAU ornament at the front of the chasuble and the column at the back.

The chasuble is in the Studio's Borromeon style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG