Colours in Church
Have you noticed that, from time to time, the colour of things in church change ? The special robes worn by the clergy, in addition to the front of the altar, (amongst other things) will change colour from time to time. Each season the Church’s year has its own distinctive colour and these are called ‘liturgical colours’.
Green
Green is the colour we have more than others. Green is the ‘ordinary’ colour of nature. In the main it is used after Trinity Sunday and last for about half of the year, until we approach the season of Advent. There are other short periods when green is used – from the end of the season of Epiphany until the beginning of lent and between Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.
Purple
Purple is the colour of Penitence and Preparation. It is used for Lent (the 40 days before Easter) and Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas). Traditionally, at St Peter’s, we do not have flowers in church for these solemn periods.
White and Gold
White is used for celebration and all joyful Festivals – Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and the weeks following, and Ascension.
Red
Red is the colour of fire and blood and is used at Pentecost to remind us of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples like tongues of flame (Acts 2.11). It is also used for festivals of martyrs (eg St Peter, our patron saint) and, in the current Church calendar, for Holy Week and the Sundays leading up to Advent.