The most basic vestment is the alb (from the Latin word for "white," which color it is. It is an ankle-length garb with narrow sleeves. It is the oldest Christian vestment, derived from the Roman tunic. It became a distinctively Christian vestment by the fifth century. The alb is worn for celebrations of the Eucharist, sometimes services of daily prayer and other liturgies. When worn by the presiding minister at the Eucharist, a stole and chasuble may be worn over it. It may be tied at the waist by a woven white cord called a cincture.
		The stole is a long band of fabric worn by clergy as a sign of ordination since the eighth century. It is presented during the ordination rite. Stoles are worn in the color of the day, over the alb by ordained ministers. In fabric and color it usually matches the chasuble. It is a symbol of the yoke of obedience to Christ (see Matthew 11:28-30. Since the stole is a sign of ordination, care should be taken that vestments worn by others, especially choirs, should not appear to be stoles.
		The cassock is a black ankle-length garment with long narrow sleeves, usually buttoned in front from neck to ankle. It is not really a vestment, but a garment often worn under the alb or other vestments. (The cassock was often lined with fur in northern European countries in winter, when churches had no heat.) For clergy, the cassock is black; in some traditions, bishops wear purple or red.
		The surplice is a full-sleeved white vestment worn over the cassock for Morning and Evening Prayer and Compline (Prayer at the Close of the Day). It originated in the eleventh century as a monastic choir vestment. Originally ankle-length, the surplice has gradually become somewhat shorter (knee-length). A derivative vestment is the cotta, a white waist-length version of the surplice. The cotta sometimes is worn over the cassock by acolytes and choristers.
		The cope is an ornate processional cloak or cape. It is open in the front, fastened near the neck with an ornamental clasp known as the morse. Unlike other vestments, most of which derived from forms of secular clothing, the cope originated out of a need for a garment that could be worn when a chasuble would be inappropriate (for example, the Daily Prayer rites, or festive processions). It is worn in the color of the day.
		Finally, the chasuble is the principal vestment of the presiding minister at the Eucharist. It is a very full vestment, in the appointed color of the church year, and is worn like a poncho over the alb and stole. It is a sign of the abundance of the eucharistic feast. It has been used as the distinctive eucharistic vestment since the eleventh century.

The vestments of lay assisting ministers depends on those of the presider. If the presider wears alb, stole, and chasuble, the assisting ministers also wear albs. If the presider wears cassock and surplice, so do the assisting ministers. If choirs understand their role as worship leaders, it would be preferable for them to be vested in the same basic garment as the presiding minister as well. Robes resembling academic gowns are discouraged.

Some congregations have their assisting ministers wear dalmatics or tunicles. (See Stauffer, Altar Guild and Sacristy Handbook, p. 32 for descriptions and illustrations.)

Paraments
Paraments are a counterpart of vestments, but paraments "clothe" or "vest" the central furnishings in the chancel. There are usually paraments on the altar (the major type is called a Laudean frontal, while the lesser types are called superfrontals or frontlets. A parament also usually adorn the pulpit or main reading desk. Sometimes a parament is hung from the lectern, if there is one. Paraments as well as vestments are in the color of the day.

Laudean		Antepedium		Frontlets

Resources

• Vestments and paraments have a long tradition in Christian churches. For history, see the entry for "Vestments" in the recently released The New Westminster Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship, ed. Paul Bradshaw (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2002; London: SCM, 2002., 464-471). 

• For more practical information, see S. Anita Stauffer, Altar Guild and Sacristy Handbook (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2000), chapter 3. A discussion of each parament and vestment can also be found in R. R. Van Loon and S. Anita Stauffer, Worship Wordbook (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1995).