Editing Surplice (section)

==Anglicanism==

The second [[Anglican]] [[Book of Common Prayer|Prayer Book]], that of [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] in 1552, prescribed the surplice as, with the [[tippet]] or the [[Academic dress in the United Kingdom#Hood|academic hood]], the sole vestment of the [[Religious minister|minister]] of the church at "all times of their ministration", the [[rochet]] being practically regarded as the episcopal surplice. The more [[Puritans|extreme Reformers]] furiously assailed its use, but in spite of their efforts, [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth]]'s [[Act of Uniformity 1558]] retained the garment, and the advertisements and injunctions issued under her authority enforced its use, though they ordered the destruction of the "massing vestments"—[[chasuble]]s, albs, stoles and the like. Copes survived this destruction as they were not considered "superstitious," having no explicit symbolic formula like the other vestments.

Until 1965, the surplice had 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 [[clerk (position)|clerk]]s in [[Holy Orders]], all the "ministers" (including vicars-choral and [[chorister]]s) of [[cathedral]] and [[collegiate church]]es, as well as the [[fellow]]s and scholars of [[college]]s in [[chapel]] have worn surplices since the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]].

The clergy have employed as a distinctive mark the tippet or scarf mentioned above, a broad band of black stuff or silk worn stole-wise, but not to be confused with the [[Stole (vestment)|stole]], since it has no liturgical significance and originally formed a mere part of the clerical outdoor dress for high ranking or degree-holding clerics. 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 [[academic 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 even of evangelical churches; however, preachers of university sermons retained the custom of wearing the gown of their degree.
[[File:School choir.jpg|thumb|A school choir wearing surplices over [[cassock]]s]]

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 [[Wig (hair)|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 falling folds has thus in many churches given place to an unpleated garment reaching to the knee. In some [[Anglo-Catholic]] churches, the surplices follow the style of the Roman cotta. Cottas may in some churches be worn by servers and members of the choir and clergy may wear surplices in services where they do not wear eucharistic vestments.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cairncross|first= H |display-authors=etal|date=1935|title=Ritual Notes|edition= 8th|location= London|publisher= W. Knott| pages= 176–177}}</ref>