& the Dog Collar

More wine Vicar?: ABSOLUTELY

If I ever get asked in the future, "Can I offer you more tea vicar" I will be tempted to asked for a double scotch instead and see how they react.

Since training to be a vicar I have been very aware of the misconception that vicars and Christians cannot have fun. That somehow believing in an everlasting God that has created all these 'rules' for us to live by means you cannot enjoy life. I disagree as would many of my Christians friends. 

I have a wonderful friend who has an illness a lot like M.E, because of this she had two choices; give up, or enjoy life. She chooses to enjoy life as she believes God would want her to get the most out of her life. I agree, Ecclesiastes 8:15 tells us; "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun". This verse reminds us of this too, thus I am going to enjoy life whilst serving God. Recently I went away with the college I train at and whilst I was there I drank, I danced (as part of a ceilidh), went on a crazy run through a lot of mud and all in all had an enjoyable week. It was great fun! Nevertheless, people seem to think I cannot have fun and have a glass of wine. Instead an opinion that has been made known to me is that I should be some kind of recluse that doesn't know how to enjoy herself. 

I do and I do not know one Christian who doesn't. 

I love God and all that the Christian faith stands for which means how I have fun maybe different from someone else. As a university fresher, I went out, drank and still made it to my lecture the next day I tried to keep my feet in both the Christian and the secular world. I however, felt that this was not appropriate to continue as my faith developed. This is not to say I do not enjoy a good night out, but instead make sure I am in control of myself. Thus, I found a way to engage in a student culture but also not do something I may regret. 

It is hard to be a Christian in today's world; it is even harder to admit you are a trainee vicar at the age of 22. I was once told by someone that I was throwing my life away by doing 'this job'. When in reality I am happy, I enjoy (most days) and am very excited for what God has in store for me. Becoming a Christian is one of the most life giving things I have done that gives me amazing opportunities to experience the world, to serve people through God and genuinely have a good time.

And if you still think being a Christian is boring why not visit a night club church, a forest church or take a look at this website http://www.4muk.com. Then maybe you'll rethink how you view that 'weird' Christian you work with.

Be Blessed,

Steph xoxo

“I thought you oughta to know that if you want become a priest you will need to change how you dress. You cannot wear such fancy clothes.” OUCH! And I thought my dress was lovely.


This particular comment was made when I was still discerning the vocation of becoming a priest and it eventually became the starting topic for my undergraduate degree dissertation. Yes it upset me that much that I choose to write 9400 words based on one comment. I think it made me so angry because I love clothes and I reflect who I am through them. It also hurt me because it made me think that people must box up what a priest is and looks like. I then began to question, does this mean do I need to look like a white male? Do I need to rethink my appearance? Do people expect a 20year old women to  dress like a man and disguise herself? Sorry but I'm not prepared to do that.  I can be me and respectively represent Jesus to.
I hate to break it to people but the church is changing and many trainee priests and current priests are no longer hiding behind a male image. Consequently those who want to are reflecting their personalities through dress and becoming much more experimental in dressing with the dog collar. This is also reflected in recent articles in the church times. Nevertheless, female priests seem to be heavily scrutinised for their clothing choices. Sally Hitchiner was scrutinised for her dress by a blogger who described her as a:
‘sort of spectacle that traditional Anglicans feared when they allowed the ordination of women[…] We wouldn't expect a policewoman to accessorise her uniform like this - nor do her hair up like she's off to a ball[…] It's as though she's not taking the church seriously[...] Hitchiner was "parading" herself on TV with a "dog collar attached to a clubber's outfit", a combination which makes the church look ridiculous’.
Despite this, Hitchiner maintained her choice of clothing was suitable for her job as a priest and a university chaplain. She also questioned why it was wrong for a priest to be concerned and interested in fashion and Prada. I see no problem with this. As a result of Hitchiner’s style choices and other more daring priests they have paved the way for other women. As originally Hitchiner followed ‘the unwritten rules of the church’ and dressed dowdily, but ‘now she dresses in a way which reflects her personality’. And I am very glad she does this!

The women I interviewed for my dissertation all had stories of being scrutinised for their dress. I understand that priests should dress for the situation, but they should be able to enjoy the world of clothes and fashion! For example, it may not be appropriate to wear your biker jacket with your dog collar when visiting the new elderly couple in the parish, they may not appreciate it as much as you do. But, wearing it to visit the local biker pub would be a great opportunity to evangelise as, they’ll perceive you as being more on their wavelength and connect with you more easily.
 I feel many people have become lost in what the church has looked like and still does in some cases. Nevertheless, the church is an exciting place to be that is looking forward and the change in how's women priests are dressing is a small reflection of this.

In my opinion, it is good for a priest to be creative with how they dress as it leads to conversations and creates a new image of the church. So next time you’re out shopping and you see a pretty selection of high necked tops let me know because it'll go great with a dog collar.
 Be blessed

Steph