To our Esteemed Customers

The creation of a tariff system by the US Federal Government on goods imported to the USA has and continues to have widespread direct and indirect effects on the Saint Bede Studio.

The Studio is doing its best to accommodate these changes to costs, procedures, delivery times etc.  But imposed circumstances continue to vary and not everything is yet clear.

Although we (along with many other businesses) have been setback by this substantial change, I wish to assure our customers that no commission with us has been overlooked.

For difficulties experienced, we apologise and seek your goodwill and patience.

Michael Sternbeck

Proprietor

13th October 2025.

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 Studio Blog

Recently, there has been a substantial increase of visitors to the Saint Bede Studio blog : most exciting !

Are you a new reader of our blog posts?

Once a year, the Studio publishes a .pdf format newsletter in which some new vestments are presented, in addition to brief articles on the Sacred Liturgy.

If you are interested in subscribing to this Newsletter, please contact us at this e-mail address using the subject title " Newsletter ".

stbede62@gmail.com

Thank you for your interest in our work for the Church.

AMDG.

Ordinands ! Please take note ...

Commissions for the first half of 2026 are now being accepted.
  
Will you be ordained in 2026?

Please do not delay in making an enquiry.  

Places in our schedule are limited. NOW is the time to be in contact with the Studio.  

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Purchasing Quality Vestments in Times of Fiscal Constraint

One of the Studio's more contemporary

chasuble styles "Saint Martin".

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?

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

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 

Studio Facebook Page

 

Did you know that the Saint Bede Studio has its own FACEBOOK page?

You may find it at this link.

AMDG

Vestments in hot climates

Heavier vestments, although they sit very well, can be difficult for the celebrant to manage in hot climates.  Not every church has the advantage of air-conditioning. 

The fabric used also has a great deal to do with the comfort of the vestments.  Did you know that almost all the brocades available for purchase online by suppliers in various parts of the world are largely - even entirely - synthetic?  The quality of synthetic fabrics varies greatly, of course, but those which are selling online for a low price per metre are not among the finest.  Such fabrics can misbehave in all sorts of ways and be difficult to sew.  Unhappily, vestments made from such cheap fabrics are seen in online photographs all too frequently.  Caveat emptor! 

When asked about comfortable vestments, the Saint Bede Studio suggests the use of pure silk, be it silk damask or silk dupion.  The former, of course, is magnificent, but expensive.  But silk dupion is also quite lovely, with a beautiful sheen and comes in many different shades of the liturgical colours.  It is moderately priced.  A vestment made from silk dupion, even when fully lined, is extremely comfortable to wear and flows beautifully.  Such a set of vestments is shewn in the adjacent photographs.

An alternative to silk is to request a chasuble made from ecclesiastical brocade, but without a lining.  An unlined chasuble is much easier in the very hot weather.  Please note, that although the Studio does make unlined chasubles upon request, our stoles, maniples and chalice veils are always fully lined.

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

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

AMDG.

Made by Catholics for Catholics.

On the Catholic news website, National Catholic Register, I found today a prominent and very long article extolling the glories of the English firm Watts and Co.

The Saint Bede Studio is a very much smaller firm than Watts and Co., and hasn't been around nearly as long. And yet, we make some of the world's most admired vestments and have customers on most continents.

There is another important difference between the Saint Bede Studio and Watts and Co.  Our small staff is Catholic and we only make vestments for the Catholic Church.  Our vestments are made in an atmosphere of prayer.  Some may not find this significant, but we believe it is important that the vestments we make as Catholics are worn only by Catholic priests and only for the worship of the Catholic Church.

Do you also think that is important? Then perhaps spread the word about our work and the Studio blog.  And may God bless you in 2024.

Enquiries.

AMDG

The Studio Newsletter

The Studio's latest Newsletter will be sent to those on our list of contacts in coming days.  Would you like to  receive a copy?  If so, please send an e-mail with the subject "NEWSLETTER" to our address :

stbede62@gmail.com

AMDG

Considering new vestments?

Would you be considering new vestments for yourself, your Parish or as a gift?  

There's no time like the present !

The Saint Bede Studio has an international reputation for the quality of its designs and craftsmanship.

Please contact us to discuss your interest and look over this blog to get an idea of the range of vestments we design and make.  A menu on the blog sidebar conveniently arranges the vestments we have produced into style and colour to make your search easier.

Please share this post with others who might be interested in our work.  

Thank you.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

AMDG.

Purchasing quality vestments in times of fiscal constraint

One of the Studio's more contemporary
styles "Saint Martin".

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. 

Concerning fabrics for vestments

Admirers of Church vestments would be surprised to learn that the majority of ecclesiastical fabrics are either entirely or largely comprised  of man-made yarns, or "synthetics".  Fabrics of the highest quality, however, continue to be made from silk ... and these are very expensive.

Contrary to a common prejudice, not all synthetic fabrics are second-rate and unpleasant to wear.  Synthetic fabrics vary widely in quality.  Those who hold the view that a brocade fabric is always better than a plain fabric might be disappointed to learn that widely available ecclesiastical brocades from Europe (particularly Italy), India, the United States &c are not infrequently of indifferent quality.

At the Saint Bede Studio, we use a better quality of fabrics for all our work. A great deal of our time is spent searching for quality fabrics from various parts of the world.  We judge the fabrics we use to be suitable for vestment work not only by their appearance but on their stability and durability.

Liturgical Art in Troubling Times : 2

Many thanks to all who visit the Blog of The Saint Bede Studio, either on a daily or an occasional basis, to look over our newly-made vestments, or to read our liturgical commentaries. We appreciate your support. 

In a previous article, we spoke about the downturn in custom experienced by the Studio and, indeed, by liturgical artists generally at this time. Something is wrong and it is affecting so many livelihoods in the business of ecclesiastical supply. It is commented upon by economic analysts that when there is disturbance in the market or an economy - whatever the cause may be - people stop spending on whatever is not essential. We seem to be at such a moment.

The Church being in a troubled state, there is every reason why the Saint Bede Studio should also accept its share of hardship; it is not fitting to complain about this too much. On the other hand, at the Studio we like to think (not a delusion we hope) that by our work we are making a significant contribution to the beautification of the Sacred Liturgy and the art of the Church. We would like that contribution to continue.

Would you agree?

Miss Bronwyn Jones and Michael Sternbeck
of The Saint Bede Studio.

Perhaps you could help us to keep the business going in these difficult times :

• Enquire with us about a commission for vestments for your Parish;
• Discuss with us making a gift of vestments to a priest;
• Speak to people you know who might be interested in our work;
• Share links to our work from the Studio Facebook page;
• Pray for God’s Blessing on our Studio, so that we may continue our work.

Please give your earnest consideration to assisting our work.

With our thanks,

Michael Sternbeck

stbede62@gmail.com

To be continued …

Liturgical Art in Troubling Times

The Church is not doing so well at present and many worldwide are greatly troubled.  It is not the business of the Saint Bede Studio to assess the problems in the Church (many others do that!), still less to provide solutions, except in so far as we have always done : and that is by the creation of liturgical art. This is often called The Way of Beauty.  By means of the Studio blog, we also try to help our readers understand more fully the breadth of our Catholic Tradition.

In its day-to-day work, the Studio has also noticed the effects of the Church’s tribulations both by the decline in new orders received over the last year, and by the daily interactions between us and our customers.   Confidence is shaken. 

The vestments made by the Studio are - we hope - distinctive and beautiful. But they are also made to last (provided they are well cared for) a very long time ... even decades. Consequently they may be seen as a form of long-term asset.  The cost of living and the cost of fabrics determine our prices; if we charged less for our vestments, we could not afford to continue in business. It is as simple as that. But we try to ensure that our prices are on a par with other prominent vestment-makers and, wherever it is possible, we offer a discount.

One customer wrote to us recently : 

Your vestments are not inexpensive, but they do represent good value for money. 

Since our prices have changed little over the course of the past few years, something else is happening. There are economic factors, of course, but what seems to have changed markedly is the atmosphere in the Church over the last year.  A lack of optimism, confidence and enthusiasm is very obvious, even to those removed from the coal face of parish life.

What may not be known to readers is that this phenomenon is affecting Ecclesiastical suppliers, liturgical artists and artisans worldwide.   Most everyone seems to be "doing it tough". The entire craft of Catholic liturgical arts is in trouble at present and there is little money to be made in making vestments.

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is not just the sewing of finer-quality vestments.  Even a basic set of vestments is to us a minor work of liturgical art.  Much consideration goes into the design and making of our vestments and no two are ever quite the same.  Other businesses have available vestments “off-the-rack”, in online stores; but we do not.  There are several reasons for this, but perhaps the most important to us is that we have thought it best to make vestments for those in Communion with the Roman Church.  Our vestments are for Catholic priests and they are made by Catholics, in an environment which is modest, hard-working, dedicated and prayerful.

Another aspect of the Studio’s work is our ongoing research into the history of the Church generally, but in particular, the history of the Sacred Liturgy, vestments and paraments and ecclesiastical architecture.  This research, which we have undertaken over a period of almost forty years, informs all our liturgical art.  This scholarship distinguishes the Saint Bede Studio from those businesses which simply supply vestments.  The results of our research will frequently be found in articles on the three blogs which we maintain, intended to be simple presentations to inform our readers.

Reading over this post, we ask you to give some consideration to supporting our work for God by placing a commission for vestments with us.  We express our heartfelt thanks to loyal customers who have continued to support the Studio in difficult times.  Please pray for God’s continued Blessing of our endeavours.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com