| Colour
can be seen in the church in the outer vestment,
or chasuble, and the embroidered scarf, or stole,
of the priest. It can also be seen in the altar
frontal, the pulpit fall and bible book marks.
Colours vary according to the time of the Christian
Year: white and gold for the light, joy, purity
of Christ, Mary and the saints; red for the
blood and fire of the Holy Spirit, martyrs and
the Cross; purple or blue for the penitence
and preparation of Advent and Lent; green for
the hope and creation creation of all the other
times of the year. |
The
colour in the Church is white or
gold
during
Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and
for major Saints Days
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The Chasuble
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The Stole
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The Altar Frontal
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The Pulpit Fall
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For Communion
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White and gold are used for the light,
joy and purity of Christ, Mary and
the saints. White is the colour for
the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany
and Easter. It is also used for Trinity
Sunday, Festivals of Our Lord and
the Blessed Virgin Mary, for All Saints'
Day and for the festivals of some
saints. It is used for weddings, and
can be used for baptism, confirmation
and ordination. It may be used in
preference to purple or black for
funerals, and should be used at the
funeral of a child.
Christmas
is the festival when we remember the
birth of Jesus.
Epiphany
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
most important belief is in the Resurrection,
Easter is the most important Christian
Festival. White and gold are dazzling
and are used for 'best'. |
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The
colour in the Church is red for
the Holy Spirit, Martyrs and the
Cross
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The Chasuble
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The Stole
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The Altar Frontal
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The Pulpit Fall
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For Communion
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Red is used for the fire and blood
of the Holy Spirit, martyrs and the
Cross. Red is the colour of blood,
and therefore the colour of martyrdom
and is used for any service that commemorates
the death of a martyr. Red is also
the colour of fire and therefore of
the Holy Spirit so is used at services
which concentrate on the Holy Spirit
like baptism, confirmation and ordination.
It is used during Holy Week (except
at Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday).
Colours are traditionally taken away
for Good Friday and Easter Eve, but
red is the colour for the liturgy
on Good Friday.
Pentecost
is a festival that celebrates the
descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven
to all Christians. |
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Purple
or Blue is used during Advent and
Lent
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The Chasuble
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The Stole
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The Altar Frontal
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The Pulpit Fall
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For Communion
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Being made from Murex shells, purple
was the most expensive dye in Roman
times, and so became a sign of wealth,
power, and royalty as we prepare for
the coming of Christ the King during
Advent. It is also associated with
mourning and so anticipates the pain
and suffering of the crucifixion during
Lent. It became associated with judgement
because the Roman judges and senators
used to wear purple robes. Purple
is recommended for funerals and for
the Commemoration of the Faithful
Departed, although either black or
white may be preferred.
Advent is
the period we prepare for Christmas
and the coming of the King.
Lent is
the period we prepare for Easter and
the coming of the King. |
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The
colour in the Church is green when
there are no festivals or special
days like Saints Days
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The Chasuble
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The Stole
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The Altar Frontal
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The Pulpit Fall
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For Communion
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Green is for general use as it is
considered to be a natural colour.
It is the colour of vegetation, the
colour of life and is used for the
hope and creation during all other
times of the year. There two such
periods, one from the day after the
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
until Shrove Tuesday, and the other
from the day after Pentecost until
the eve of All Saints' Day, except
when other special days occur. These
two seasons are also called Ordinary
Time because the Sundays have no names
and there are no festivals or special
days like Saints Days. Green may also
be used, rather than red, between
All Saints' Day and the First Sunday
of Advent. |
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