women beware women

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Feb 19, 2004

Anglican Mary Wakefield takes an unfriendly (and somewhat feline?) look at her ordained co-religionists.

In the crypt, an hour before the grand celebration of the tenth anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood, there were women priests of every description: fifty-something tiggywinkles with thick NHS spectacles; red-cheeked 30-year-olds, their clerical collars just visible above green fleeces; Laura Ashley skirts and sensible slip-ons mixed with smart black trouser suits and high heels. Exciting rarities included a very tall woman in black breeches waving a walking stick decorated with feathers; one with bright red hair and piercings; an octogenarian with a pink-rinse wig, and a pregnant priest in a brown velvet trouser suit. ... As female clergy from all over England processed in from the Dean's Aisle, one crop-haired woman pulled off a pair of round, pink sunglasses and hooked them on to the front of her surplice.

I can't decrypt much of the fashion chat, but I get the feeling that it's not intended as a compliment.