MY husband Dave (also called Nicholas) and I live a Plain life, dedicated to Christian service in the Anglican church as priests and wherever God sends us. We are not Anabaptist, Mennonite, Amish, Quaker or Brethren. We are Plain Anglican. This is a new category perhaps, and the Anglican Church may not be ready for it, but here we are.
Anglican, Plain
recovering the Quaker ethos for Anglicans
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2008, 10, 12 at 5:12 am
Carol
Dear sister,
Thank you for your blog and your heartfelt and sincere writings. I, too, am a plain dressing, prayer covering Christian, seeking to serve the Lord where ever He takes me. I am neither Mennonite, Amish, Quaker or Brethren (though my mother was raised Dunkard — Old German Brethren in PA). I attend a very large, non-denominational Bible church. It has been an interesting progression to go from post-modern (cut/dyed hair, jewelry, fashioned clothing) to a plain modest woman. My family has not been sympathetic of my choice nor have they particularly understood my reasons for doing it. My husband is agreeable to a point, but has asked me not to go “Amish” on him. Out of respect for him, I have tailored my plainness to be modest, yet humble and sober (be ye soberminded). I wear long skirts, simple blouses, underskirts, dark stockings and sturdy shoes or boots. I am out of date (in the 1970s-80s, I was in style with this look!), but comfortable. I wear a bandana or simple scarf for my covering (hoping soon to try and make my own prayer cap). I also frequent thrift shops and pick up as many “plain” skirts and dresses as I can find. Unfortunately, they are often hard to come by now adays. Most of the dresses are made of inappropriate fabric and the skirts are form-fitting and short. I am not a good seamstress and do not have a lot of money to purchase my ready-made plain dresses. I do have a sewing machine and am getting up the nerve to try and sew my own skirts and modest dresses (using a Cape pattern).
I just wanted to tell you that I stopped by and enjoyed reading all your posts (yes, I read all of them — or most of them). Blessings to you and your husband as you journey down this road of spiritual enlightenment. God is good and His mercy endures forever!
2008, 10, 14 at 5:30 pm
Magdalena Julie Bragdon Perks
Blessings to you, Carol!
The prayer cap is not hard to make. Start with a piece of old sheeting or something similar to get the right fit for you, and just baste it together, adjusting as needed, until you have a good fit, then take your pattern from that. I make my patterns from old gift wrap; it lasts better than tissue. Mark your pleats on the pattern so you don’t have to adjust each time you cut one. I usually sew the cap by hand to have more control and to get a better finished look. “Quaker Jane” has some very nice photos of herself in various styles. Remember, you can wear the cap at home, and until your husband is ready to see you in it all the time, tie your scarf over it when you go out. Just untie the strings and put them back under the scarf. You can pin the scarf to the cap.
I would suggest that you polish your sewing skills on a jumper or simple pullover dress before you dive into the cape dress! The traditional patterns are described as “for experts” and they require some practice in fitting. But do get a pattern and spend time with it. Again, the old-fashioned muslin mock-up can be a great exercise in fitting.
Sister, keep praying and let the Spirit work in you and those who love you. Listen to all, but especially to the Lord speaking ot you in Word, Sacrament and in your own heart. Pray without ceasing. Be patient, as God is patient with us.
May the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you, and grant you peace.
2009, 03, 02 at 6:47 am
Thea Pollock
For nice cap coverings:
http://tabithaslegacy.home.mindspring.com/id15.html contact Sarah
http://www.prayercoverings.com/ contact Bayley
2009, 04, 11 at 7:22 pm
person
Hello. I feel led to plain dress and was lloking for advice about what to do when clothes have become to thread bare. I do not want to spend lots of money on clothes ( I ontend to order custom cape dresses at a rather expensive to me $55 each). However I will probally not order anymore than 3 each for summer/fall (live in fl so that’s all there really is) and plan to wear them for 3yrs at least hopefully which I realize will break down into way less than I sed yearly now (it’s amazing how when tinking about only getting rid of clothes when they are threadbare and not gettig unnecessary gamets has made me reaze how excessive I am even though I have one of the smallest wadrobes I knw compares to friends). Anyway, I ws wondi if you had any advice on what to do when tecothes are no longer wearable. I do nt want to throw them awy and as someone who has sorted through donated items I know the insensitivity in gieto others cothes you yourself would not deemwearable (less it be for size,color reasons, etc.) Do you have anyi deas? Can material be recycled? I am also tinking maybe they could be cut up and turned into aprons.
2009, 04, 14 at 12:50 pm
magdalenaperks
I make my old dresses into aprons, kerchiefs, or if too far gone, into patches for other dresses. I also cut the sleeves off and turn them into slips, if possible. I am rather extreme in frugality, so I wear my dresses patched and darned for far too long, perhaps, but as long as I am decent and clean, no one can object. Wool fabric can be recycled into braided rugs. Cotton can be turned into woven rugs, a very old practice. I have seen woven wool scrap rugs that are close to a hundred years old. It used to be that linen and cotton rags got turned into paper. I don’t know if anyone does that anymore.
2009, 07, 14 at 12:15 am
Saskia
Dear Magdalena,
I am reading your blog with great interest. I am a Catholic woman in Australia who is feeling increasingly convicted to dress and live a Plain life, and increasingly disenchanted with Catholic doctrine and hierachy. We are currently not aattending any Church at the moment as we are unable to find one that fits. Perhaps home church will be the option forthe near future. I am currently wearing long sober coloured skirts and blouses -mostly either thrifted or made myself, I am lucky to be an experienced seamstress, I do not wear head covering at the moment although I have been considering it for some time. The trouble is that here in Brisbane Australia there are no Plain people and I know of only one other Christian woman who wears a scarf. The only folk who cover up here in the subtropics are Muslim women. This is real issue for me as I don’t wish to draw unnessecary attention to myself -dressing Plain and covering would draw more attention than going about naked around here! I am deeply concerned about appearing to be vain and self rightous in my appearance, and have been doing much heart searching about the whole issue. However I cannot escape the conviction to become Plain. I read you rblog with interest and encouragement it is good to know ther eare other folk out there who share the same convictions – when I first felt this call I thought te only folk who lived this lifestyle were the Old Order Mennoites and the Amish and I wouldn’t want to be seen to be aping thier culture.
Thank you so much for your encoouraging blog. If you have any words of wisdom for me they would be graetly appreciated.
Saskia
2009, 07, 14 at 7:14 pm
magdalenaperks
Try googling on “Quaker!” Quakers were Plain Anglicans about 400 years ago, but as always the Anglicans threw out the dissidents. People often think we are being judgmental when we are convicted. But covering and Plain dress are like the cross on a church – a visible reminder of faith. Be humble about it, but if thee is convicted, then suffer that conviction with joy! I recommend “Quaker Jane” as a website that is very helpful. she is a Plain dressing, Conservative Quaker in the USA. Also, look through my post comments for “Sarah,s” replies. She is also Australian. Please feel free to communicate through this site if thee desires. God bless thee.
2009, 09, 29 at 5:25 am
Thea Pollock
Hello Sasakia,
I would like to refer thee to this web site: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Cyprus/7560/LetHerBeVeiled.html
Thee will find compelling reasons to wear a covering.
Thy friend in Jesus, Thea Pollock
2009, 10, 22 at 12:20 am
Rose
Hello
It’s soo nice to read your blog. I too, am a Plain Anglican
(my husband, son and I were confirmed this past July.. my husband is a “reader”, and my son is an Acolyte) I am the only lady in our congregation who wears a head-covering. I wear it full-time too, not just in church.
I think everyone is getting used to me now, as the stares have stopped, and some ladies are getting brave (I laugh at the thought of them having to be brave) enough to ask me about my headcovering.
Can you help me understand why the headcovering is not talked about in the Anglican church.. it was actually skipped over in our parish a while back.. we read up to 1 Corin 11:1, then skipped right down to 1 Corin 11:17 .
thank you, again