Clergy needed to strut their stuff on catwalk

STYLISH vicars will strut down the catwalk on the first day of a Christian exhibition in Exeter, and organisers are looking for Westcountry clergy who want to take part.

All types and styles of formal ecclesiastical clothing will be on display at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) at Westpoint, which runs from January 29 to 31.

Clergy on the Catwalk will be held at the Christian Resources Exhibition staged at Westpoint, Exeter, at the end of this month

Designers featured in the show will include J Wippell Ltd of Exeter.

Steve Goddard, a spokesman for the exhibition, said: "It's the first time we've run a clerical fashion show at Westpoint. All denominations, shapes, sizes, ages and genders considered – and we're giving £50 to each participant as a thank you. Clergy on the Catwalk is always great fun and invariably leads to interesting discussions on faith, fashion and Christian symbolism."

Juliet Hemingway, who has designed vestments for George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and will also show her designs at the exhibition, said: "Women clergy have brought a fresh look to garments. They are not as willing to put up with dirty, worn-out robes."

Clergy taking part will need to be available for rehearsals between 8am and 10am on Thursday January 29. The catwalk show will run from 1pm for about an hour.

The South West CRE will cover a range of seminars, from multi-media worship to climate change. More than 30 seminars will be held over three days. Event director Steve Briars said: "The event plays a vital role in equipping and empowering local churches. Speakers of real calibre, reflecting important regional concerns, have been blended with national experts on a host of relevant subjects."

Up to 130 organisations are expected to exhibit, from children's charities to retreat centres.