White and gold are dazzling and are considered to be for 'best'. In the ancient Church, people were given white robes as soon as they came out from the waters of baptism. Therefore, white is the colour for major Christian festivals, the seasons of Easter and Christmas and Epiphany.

White is sometimes the colour for funerals, since it is the colour of the Resurrection, for weddings, and for holidays that are celebrated in the church. It is also the colour for Trinity. Gold or ivory are alternatives to white.

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.

As it was very expensive, purple became a sign of wealth, power, and royalty.

Therefore purple is the colour during times of fasting, for the seasons of Advent and Lent, which celebrate the coming of the King.

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.