Pentecost Red

When in doubt, post about vestments, as I have said repeatedly in the past. That line of thought led to me to recall that the set I have been wearing today is a unique Swanvale Halt possession, because it was made by members of the congregation. The ‘Marley Red’, as I dub it after its donors, Mr & Mrs of that name, has the customary Pentecost motifs of dove and flames picked out in gold kid leather, or something synthetic that resembles it. It’s made from a surprisingly heavy and quite coarse-woven fabric with a slightly slippery silky lining. I am not all that fond of it, because of the rather modern design; but I’m happy to use it on Pentecost Day, when it makes most sense, to do honour to the makers who are still around, and because despite its style it’s surprisingly traditional in some ways. As well as the dove-and-flames there’s a cross on the back, which is very proper, and the Marleys even saw fit to provide a maniple, when I would have thought Fr Edgar had consigned the maniples from all the church’s sets to the back of a drawer by that time. This thoughtfulness means I don’t feel improperly dressed in the Marley Red. It’s now back in its drawer again, probably to evade the moths for another year!