The new head verger at Romsey Abbey, Chris Harpham, has been presented with a new top gown, to be worn over his black cassock.
The Friends of Romsey Abbey funded the gown and Mr Harpham was presented with it by the chairman, Jill Hall, at the harvest festival service on Sunday, October 1.
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The meaning of the blue markings and tassels on the top gown mark the two saints in Romsey, Our Lady Virgin Mary and St Ethelflaeda, so the colour of the markings is marian blue in honour of Mary.
The top gown is worn by Mr Harpham when on duty for services, weddings and funerals.
All vergers wear a top gown, which has a great connection with the work of both churches and cathedrals.
The office of verger goes back to early days of the church, but in Romsey the first person who had the title of verger was in about 1835. The verger was also called the parish beadle.
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