Choir vestments

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St. Paul’s choirs use traditional vestments as worn in Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Anglican churches throughout the world.

Choir vestments are a uniform, denoting our role as ministers serving in worship. When they are worn, they must be kept clean and worn correctly. Both cassocks and surplices can be washed and dried at home. Top buttons must be fastened.

All-black dress shoes (no heel or low, quiet heel) are also part of our choir dress with vestments. If worn, earrings should be small simple (studs or small hoops), with no other jewelry visible, except for a St. Paul’s Choir long-service cross if you have one. For more formal occasions, please wear black socks and pants or black hosiery. Other street clothes must not be visible, with the exception of the tailored shirt above neckline (white shirt with tie preferred).

Cassock (CASSuhk)
Cassock - Wikipedia

Most choir cassocks are black, although some are other colors.  In US Episcopal cathedrals, choir cassocks are purple.  In some other churches and cathedrals they are often red, but sometimes blue or even turquoise.  In UK Royal chapels they are scarlet, the color also worn at St. Thomas Church, NYC.

Surplice (SURpluhs)
sometimes also called Cotta (COTTuh)
Surplice - Wikipedia

In Anglican and Roman Catholic settings, the surplice is only worn during worship.  For concert performances and rehearsals, choirs will usually wear just the cassock. We wear cassocks for public rehearsals in the Sanctuary, and add surplices for worship.

For worship on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, at services before the Easter Vigil, we wear cassocks only for worship.