Surplice

A surplice (from the Late Latin superpelliceum; from super (over) and pellis (fur); sobrepellice in Spanish; surplis in French; cotta in Italian and Chorrock (choir coat) in German) comprises a liturgical vestment of the Christian Church http://kencollins.com/glossary/vestment-02.htm#cassocksurplice. It has the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton material, with wide or moderately wide sleeves, reaching - according to the Roman use ? barely to the hips and elsewhere in the churches of the Roman communion to the knee. It usually features lace decoration, but in modern times - in Germany at least - it may also have embroidered bordures.

Church of England

The second Anglican Prayer Book, that of Edward VI in 1549, prescribed the surplice as, with the tippet or the academical hood, the sole vestment of the minister of the church at "all times of their ministration", the rochet being practically regarded as the episcopal surplice. The more extreme Reformers furiously assailed its use, but in spite of their efforts, Elizabeth's Act of Uniformity (1559) retained the garment, and the advertisements and injunctions issued under her authority enforced its use, though they ordered the destruction of the "massing vestments" - chasubles, albs, stoles and the like.

Related Topics:
Prayer Book - Edward VI - Tippet - Hood - Minister - Rochet - Elizabeth - Act of Uniformity (1559) - Chasuble - Stole

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The surplice has since remained, with the exception of the cope, the sole vestment authorised by law for the ministers, other than bishops, of the Church of England (for the question of the vestments prescribed by the "Ornaments Rubric" see vestment). And apart from clerks in Holy Orders, all the "ministers" (including vicars-choral and choristers) of cathedral and collegiate churches, as well as the fellows and scholars of colleges in chapel have worn surplices since the Reformation. The clergy (at least its more dignified members) have employed as a distinctive mark the tippet or scarf above mentioned, a broad band of black silk worn stole-wise, but not to be confused with the stole, since it has no liturgical significance and originally formed a mere part of the clerical outdoor dress. Formerly the clergy only wore the surplice when conducting the service, and exchanged it during the sermon for the "black gown", i.e. either a Geneva gown or the gown of an academical degree. This custom has, however, as a result of the High Church movement, become almost completely obsolete. The "black gown", considered wrongly as the ensign of Low Church views, survives in comparatively few of even evangelical churches; however, preachers of university sermons retained the custom of wearing the gown of their degree.

Related Topics:
Cope - Ornaments Rubric - Vestment - Clerk - Holy Orders - College - Chapel - Reformation - Stole - Geneva gown - Gown - High Church - Low Church

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The traditional form of the surplice in the Church of England survived from pre-Reformation times: a wide-sleeved, very full, plain, white linen tunic, pleated from the yoke, and reaching almost, or quite, to the feet. Towards the end of the 17th century, when large wigs came into fashion, it became convenient to have surplices constructed gown-wise, open down the front and buttoned at the neck, a fashion which still partially survives, notably at the universities. In general, however, the tendency followed continental influence, and curtailed the surplice's proportions. The ample vestment with beautiful falling folds has thus in many churches given place to a scanty, unpleated garment scarce reaching to the knee. In the more "extreme" churches the surplices frankly imitate the Roman cotta.

Related Topics:
Tunic - Yoke - Cotta

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Original text from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~