The Christian Year - Colours of the Christian Year

The Parish Church of St James
St. James's Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1DQ (Parish Office 020 8941 6003)

WORSHIP/SERVICES
Section Contents: Services \| Christian Year and other Special Days \| Rites of Passage \| Christian Calendar \| Worship \| Worship/Services Through the Years

Colour can be seen in the altar frontal, the embroidered scarves (stoles) and the brightly coloured outer vestment (chasuble) of the priest and colours vary according to the time of the Christian Year: White and Gold (light, joy, purity) for Christ, Mary and the saints; Red (blood, fire) for the Holy Spirit, martyrs and the Cross; Purple or Blue (penitence, preparation) for Advent and Lent; Green (hope, creation) for all other times of the year.

During Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and for major Saints Days, the colour in the Church is white or gold

White is the colour for the festal periods from Christmas Day to the Presentation and from Easter Day to the Eve of Pentecost, for Trinity Sunday, for Festivals of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary, for All Saints' Day, and for the Festivals of those saints not venerated as martyrs, for the Feast of Dedication of a church, at Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday and in thanksgiving for Holy Communion and Holy Baptism. It is used for Marriages, and is suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination, though red may be preferred. It may be used in preference to purple or black for Funerals, and should be used at the Funeral of a child. Where a church has two sets of white, one may be kept for great Festivals indicated as 'gold or white'.


The Altar Frontal	The Bible Book Mark	The Pulpit Fall

	Christmas is the festival when we remember the birth of Jesus. We thank God for His son, Jesus. Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas period. It is held by most Churches on January 6th. For many Christians, it celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus. Easter celebrates the resurrection (Rising from the dead) of Jesus. Because Christianity's central belief is in the Resurrection, Easter is the most important Christian Festival. White and gold are dazzling and are considered to be for 'best'.
The Chasuble		The Stole

At Pentecost and principal feast days for martyrs, and days which emphasis the cross of Jesus the colour in the Church is red

Red is used during Holy Week (except at Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday), on the Feast of Pentecost, may be used between All Saints' Day and the First Sunday of Advent (except where other provision is made) and is used for the Feasts of those saints venerated as martyrs. It is appropriate for any services which focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit, and is therefore suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination. Coloured hangings are traditionally removed for Good Friday and Easter Eve, but red is the colour for the liturgy on Good Friday.


The Altar Frontal	The Bible Book Mark	The Pulpit Fall

	Pentecost is a festival that happens seven weeks after Easter. Because Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven to all Christians, Pentecost is a season of evangelism and outreach, as Christians look for the presence of the Holy Spirit in everyone on earth. It remembers the story of the Holy Spirit being given to Jesus's disciples so that they could spread the message of Christianity.
The Chasuble		The Stole

During Advent and Lent the colour in the Church is purple

Purple (which may vary from 'Roman purple' to violet, with blue as an alternative) is the colour for Advent and from Ash Wednesday until the day before Palm Sunday. It is recommended for Funerals and for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, although either black or white may be preferred. A Lent array of unbleached linen is sometimes used as an alternative to purple, but only from Ash Wednesday until the day before Palm Sunday. Rose-colour is sometimes used as an alternative on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent.


The Altar Frontal	The Bible Book Mark	The Pulpit Fall

Advent is the period including the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent means 'coming' and during this time we prepare for Christmas.

Lent is the period of forty days before Easter from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter. During Lent we prepare for Easter.

Purple was the most expensive dye in Roman times being made from Murex shells. It became associated with judgement because the Roman judges and senators used to wear purple robes.

The Chasuble

The Stole

When there are no Festivals or special days like Saints Days, the colour in the Church is green

Green is the color of vegetation, therefore it is the color of life. It is used from the day after the Presentation until Shrove Tuesday, and from the day after Pentecost until the eve of All Saints' Day, except when other provision is made. These two seasons are also called ‘Ordinary Time’ because the Sundays have no names, just ordinal numbers. Green may also be used, rather than red, between All Saints' Day and the First Sunday of Advent.


The Altar Frontal	The Bible Book Mark	The Pulpit Fall

For services, over his black tunic or cassock and white clerical collar, the vicar wears a white tunic called an alb.

Over this around his neck he wears a stole which is a kind of scarf (shown on the right). Over this he wears a chasuble which is the top circular garment (shown on the left).

Green is for general use as it is considered to be a natural colour.

The Chasuble

The Stole

Further Information
	Contact the The Vicar 020 8979 2069
	Associated pages on this website: The Christain Year and other Special Days

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