15/7/06

I am intrigued - how short or long should a cotta be? I know "cotta" is Italian for short, but just what is the best way to wear one.? I've seen some that finish at the waist and some that are knee length. I would love to hear some views.

Yours in Christ
Kevin 

REPLIES 

Anthony - 15/7/06

Hi Kevin
mine is always knee length but just go on serving the Lord the way you do ....
God be with you 
Bro Anthony 

Fr. Noel Cockings - 17/7/06

No wonder the Church is in crisis when we have people worrying about the length of cottas etc. I am sure that the Lord Himself has a great laugh when such matters are regarded as important.

Father Noel Cockings
Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Australia.

Peter Hillyar-Russ - 17/7/06

Fashions change – the Italian Cotta is getting longer; almost knee length nowadays. The anglican surplice (which used to reach to the ground) is getting shorter; almost knee length nowadays.

There was, I believe, a rubric in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer which said “A surplice shall suffice”. Back in the 1960s there were clergy who refused to wear a cassock – as it was a “Roman” garment – and always wore these full length surplices. About that time I was a Church Army Captain, and when travelling on Missions, I would often, especially in the summer, travel light with a full length “Old English” surplice.

I am now a Reader, and in recent weeks I have dearly wished I still had one, when doing Evensong and a sermon on a hot and sultry evening in some of the rural churches round here. But at home, where we prefer a slightly more Italian “cut” to our tat, I actually wear a cotta which is longer than my very conventional anglican surplice.
Peter Hillyar-Russ

Kevin - 22/7/06

Dear Father Cockings,
I would like to tell you that I do not really think that cotta length is important, and have not worried about this for merest second. I simply find things like this interesting. Sad, maybe, but there we are...

Kevin

Michael Cridland 18/8/06

Dear All:

I do take umbrage with Fr Noel Cockings rather self righteous comments!

Come on Father! The Church is in crisis, and I believe it has more to do with apathy, than Kevin's rather innocent question (that is quite appropriate for a forum discussing matters liturgical)

I think the crisis is more to do with dysfunctional clergy who neglect Jesus's primary command "to feed my sheep" These guys spend more time with causes than with their own people.

In other words, if I may borrrow an analogy from "Dr Zhivago" they are more like the character "Stelnikov" who was fanatical about his cause, and forgot people, and not like Zhivago the doctor devoted to saving life! a truly Christ like figure.

We have too many Strelnikovs and too few Zhivagos.

Michael Cridland

John Carey - 12/9/06

Dear All

From being a choirboy and then server some 50 years ago I have always believed that a cotta was a short surplice; short being defined as above the waist.

PS. Does it matter as long as they are still worn?

John Carey

Kevin - 15/9/06

From the instigator of this debate,
thank you all for your replies. I pose you now a related question: what style is favoured in the very traditional Anglo-Catholic parishes? Lace or not? Long or short? Pleated or gathered at the neck? With strings or without? Split up the front as has sometimes been seen?

Kevin 

Jesus meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto thine. 

Eddie Bestwick - 17/10/06

When considering the length of any ecclesiastical garment, it is important to think of the practical issues and problems it can cause. A cassock too long can trip one up..so can an overlong surplice. A long sleeved surplice for example is no good when one plays the organ ...I use a split sleeve one for that. Long sleeves of flowing garments can be dangerous where lit candles are nearby.
I prefer a short cotta with some embroidery rather than lace..I think they look just as fine. In my younger days, I was given an old lace cotta with about 8inches of lace . It was the first time I wore it... kneeling at a metal altar rail, with ornamental work, when I stood up there was an almighty rip...part of the lace had got caught in the metal ornamental work! That was the end of that cotta....it was not that practical a garment. A short cotta I feel is more seemly and practical.

Eddie Bestwick
Leicestershire LE9 4DW

 - 2/5/07

I have been trying to find a website for Whipples to possibly order an organist's split sleeve cotta/surplice with no success. Can anyone provide it for me? Thank you!

 Fr Ray - 5/5/07

Try www.croftdesign.co.uk and www.hayesfinch.com . 

From Fr Ray

 John - 16/7/08

Hi,

I would assume that by now you have found wippell's Web address; however, if not here is the URL:
http://www.wippell.com/index.php

Peace,

John in Dallas