On Saint Thomas Becket's Day

On this feast-day of Saint Thomas Becket, we are pleased to illustrate this new set of vestments, now familiar to readers of this Blog. These vestments were made for a young priest in Germany, a returning customer.

Posts describing the venerable chasuble of Saint Thomas (which was in the semi-conical form), can be viewed here and here.

The design of the chasuble shewn adjacent is a variation on the Studio's  Saint Martin chasuble, which is an ample but surprisingly lightweight chasuble.  Although visually similar to the original Becket chasuble, there is no attempt to produce an exact replica of it.

The vestments are made from an English silk damask, which is fully lined in blue taffeta. A narrow braid, designed by the Studio in an early mediaeval style, was used to ornament the vestments in the distinctive manner.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

The Christmas Season

During the Christmas Season, we are pleased to present this chasuble which was made as a gift for an Ordinand in Chilé.

Somewhat different from the typical vestments of the Saint Bede Studio, this chasuble was made from silk taffeta of a distinctive burnished-gold colour. The chasuble is unlined and is ornamented with a lovely old braid amongst the Studio's collection in colours of brown, straw-gold and green.

Please click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

A Blessed Christmas

To all friends, customers and readers of this Blog, sincere wishes for a Blessed Christmas.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill be made low; the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain; and the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
Isaiah 40:4-5.

Michael Sternbeck
The Saint Bede Studio.

During Advent

In 2012, the Saint Bede Studio received a special commission from the Church of Saint Birinus in Oxfordshire (UK) to make a set of vestments for Advent. Saint Birinus has adopted various usages from the Sarum Rite for their celebrations of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. During the Season of Advent they use an English blue.

To accompany the existing chasuble, a dalmatic has now been made from a lovely English ecclesiastical brocade, in two tones of blue, ornamented with a narrow braid in colours of Royal blue, gold, red and white.  This braid was designed by the Saint Bede Studio.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

The small Gothic Revival Church of Saint Birinus
in Oxfordshire, UK.

Maria Regina

Father Brian O'Donnell of the Co-Cathedral of S' Joseph,
Burlington (Vermont, USA) offering Mass
on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
in a Maria Regina chasuble.

Perusing the blog The New Liturgical Movement, we were pleased to find - amongst a sea of "Roman" chasubles - a set of Maria Regina vestments and a simple linen albe worn by our customer, Father Brian O'Donnell, of the Diocese of Burlington (Vermont USA). We are pleased to include these photographs here, which Father made available to The New Liturgical Movement.

During the Mass in S' Joseph's Co-Cathedral
on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Image: From The New Liturgical Movement blog.

Gaudete Sunday 2016

On Gaudete Sunday we are pleased to present this chasuble, recently completed for a returning customer.

This chasuble, in the Studio's Saint Austin style, is a different take on the usual colour palette of Rose vestments. The colours of the sky at dawn and sunset were the inspiration for this design, made of silk damask in the colours of burgundy and old gold, and ornamented with rose-coloured silk taffeta. The vestments were lined with a taffeta of muted red.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Studio Newsletter (updated)

The Saint Bede Studio Newsletter has now been distributed to those on our e-mail subscription list.

Any reader of this Blog wishing to receive the Newsletter may do so by sending an e-mail to the following address with the subject title NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION.

Thank you to those who have kindly contacted us in the last few days requesting to be added to the Newsletter mailing list. Your names have been added.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

For the Season of Advent

The vestments shewn in the adjacent photograph were prepared for a parish community in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (Texas USA), a returning customer.

This chasuble, in the Saint Bede Studio's Saint Giles design, was made from an English ecclesiastical brocade in a muted shade of violet and lined in grey taffeta. The vestments are ornamented with an orphrey braid of the Studio's own design (directly based on the work of AWN Pugin) in colours of silver and red upon Roman purple.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Enquiries: stbede62@gmail.com

The Colours of Advent : an annual post

Often it is asserted by liturgical commentators and other internet experts, that there are "correct" colours for the vestments used during Lent and Advent. Curious as to the history of these colours in Liturgical use, some years ago we researched and posted an article  here and here, about use of penitential colours for the Seasons of Advent and Lent. If you have wondered what colour the Church recommends for these Seasons, you might find the article illuminating.

We include here an historic work of art to illustrate the practice of our forebears. This work (adjacent) was painted by an artist known as The Master of Osservanza in the year 1440 and depicts a Low Mass being offered at a side chapel in the Siena Cathedral (Italy).

Some observations. The chasuble being worn by the celebrant is violet: in other words, much the same colour as the flower "violets". It is a blue-ish colour, not purple and it is not too dark either. The chasuble is the full conical shape and is ornamented with a simple column-orphrey of dark fabric (possibly even black). Most likely, the front of the chasuble would have been decorated with the familiar "tau". The celebrant is wearing decorative apparels on his alb and amice, which match the colour of the chasuble's ornament. That is a very typical practice of the Mediaeval period. Note, too, the very full folds of the alb.

We see, also, that the young cleric assisting the celebrant is wearing a full-length surplice or rochet, according to the style typically found in Renaissance Italy. Those who claim that such surplices are a "Church of England", or a "Low Church Party" garment should note this well.

Lastly, the altar itself. It is clothed in a dark antependium or altar frontal, ornamented with scarlet red. On the altar is a Crucifix and a single candle. Although it may seem peculiar that there is but a single candle instead of a pair, it might be remarked that not until the 16th century was it a usual practice to have a pair of candlesticks on an altar.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Important Notice : 2 2017 Ordinands

Because of strong demand, the Studio's scheduled of commissions for the period January - August 2017 is now over-flowing. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to carry out work on any new enquiries until after that time.

Because this will disrupt the service we normally offer at this time of year to Ordinands, we wish to advise that a number of white chasuble sets will be made available for sale on this Blog during the first half of 2017 to ordinands * whose need may be urgent. These will be simpler sets, ornamented with a variety of the Studio's unique braids.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

* NB. No enquirer requesting a maniple will be presumed by The Saint Bede Studio to be rigid or defective in love.