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The tunicle is a liturgical  vestment  associated with Roman Catholic Latin Rite and Western Rite Orthodox subdeacons, adopted also by Anglo-Catholics, High Church Anglicans, and some Lutherans.


For a description of the tunicle, see our dalmatic page, the vestment with which it became identical in form, although earlier editions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum indicated that it should have narrower sleeves. Sometimes it was also distinguished by a single horizontal band on the front and back, as opposed to the double band of the dalmatic.

In Rome, subdeacons had begun to wear the tunicle by the sixth century, but Pope Gregory I made them return to the use of the chasuble. They began to use the tunicle again in the ninth century, a time when it was also worn by acolytes, a custom that was widespread until the late Middle Ages, and can still occasionally be found in some Anglican Churches for acolytes and crucifer. In some places outside of Rome subdeacons continued to wear the tunicle even between the sixth and the ninth centuries. The ceremony by which the bishop put a tunicle on a subdeacon whom he ordained began in the twelfth century, but did not become common until the fourteenth.

Roman deacons once wore the tunicle under the dalmatic, and the tunicle was part of the liturgical vestments of other dignitaries also. In the twelfth century it became customary for bishops to wear both a tunicle and a dalmatic as part of their pontifical vestments. Previously they had worn one or the other. Earlier editions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum made the wearing of both obligatory at Pontifical High Mass, but the present edition speaks only of the dalmatic.

Unlike a Deacon with the Dalmatic, a Sub-Deacon does not wear a stole underneath the Tunicle.

The subdiaconate is the lowest of the major orders of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and is the highest of the minor orders in Eastern Catholic churches. Though no longer a part of the Ordinary Form of the Latin rite, the subdiaconate is still conferred by orders attached to the Extraordinary Form. An ordained subdeacon is styled as "The Rev. Mr." within English-speaking countries or as "Abbe" in Europe.

While the office of subdeacon was abolished in the Anglican Church at the time of the Reformation, certain churches and communities in the Anglican Communion and within the Anglican Continuing Churches assign a layperson to act as subdeacon in the celebration of the liturgy of the mass or Holy Eucharist (especially Solemn High Mass). However, this is considered a liturgical function one fulfills and not an order to which one is ordained. In some dioceses and provinces, laypersons who act as subdeacons in this manner may be required to be specifically authorised by the respective bishop or archbishop. In practice, an Anglican subdeacon performs similar roles to those performed in Latin Rite Catholic or Western Rite Orthodox churches. The proper garments of the subdeacon are the alb and tunicle.

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All Tunicles are standard sized as follows:-  Length - 125cm front, Length - 125cm back, Total length - 250cm, Width - 150cm.  (Special sizes on request). 

These are all UNLINED as standard.  Gothic and Roman styles available.

Made from a variety of woven or damask fabrics with the single horizontal bar as depicted as standard by the Tunicle as well as twin vertical bar orphreys.

 

Sub Deacon Tunicles

sub deacon

TU-1H  Woven Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A lightweight, woven fabric Tunicle with Gold "H" Orphreys and single horizontal band. 

 

Plain colour fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

Best Seller

TU-1V  Woven Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A lightweight, woven fabric Tunicle with 2 x Gold, vertical, woven Orphreys to front and rear. 

 

Plain colour fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-1H25  Damask Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A decorative, damask fabric Tunicle with Gold "H" Orphreys and single horizontal band. 

 

Damask fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

Best Seller

TU-1V25  Damask Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A decorative, damask fabric Tunicle with 2 x Gold, vertical, woven Orphreys to front and rear.

 

Damask fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-2H115  Damask Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A decorative, damask fabric Tunicle with period tapestry, "H" Orphreys and single horizontal band. 

 

Damask fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-2V115  Damask Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A decorative, damask fabric Tunicle with period tapestry, double vertical Orphreys to front and rear.

 

Cream Damask fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-3H103  Woven Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A lightweight, woven fabric Tunicle with Jerusalem Cross style, woven "H" Orphreys and single horizontal band. 

 

Plain colour fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-3V103  Woven Fabric Gothic Tunicle


A lightweight, woven fabric Tunicle with double, vertically positioned Jerusalem Cross style, woven Orphreys to front and rear. 

 

Plain colour fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-4H579-A  Woven Fabric Gothic Tunicle

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A lightweight, woven fabric Tunicle with single "H" pattern and embroidered velvet orphreys. 

 

Golden thread Celtic design embroidery applied to velvet orphreys. rear. 

 

Plain colour fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TU-4V579-A  Woven Fabric Gothic Tunicle

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A lightweight, woven fabric Tunicle with double, vertical and embroidered velvet orphreys. 

 

Golden thread Celtic design embroidery applied to velvet orphreys. rear. 

 

Plain colour fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.

 

Unlined as standard and complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). 

In Gothic style and all liturgical colours


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

Roman style Tunicles

In the true Roman styling with open sides, sleeves and the cut of the garment shape.  We can offer these in many fabrics and styles and the items shown below are an example of our popular styles.  Lined as standard.

 

TR-201H-25  Damask Fabric Roman Tunicle


A decorative, damask fabric Roman Tunicle with Gold "H" Orphreys and single horizontal band. 

 

Damask fabric with a smooth finish.  A truly traditional vestment and one that is easy to wear and launder.  Lined.

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Complete with FREE maniple (No stole, not used by Sub-Deacons). In all liturgical colours   

 

In Roman styling with open sides and arms.


Made to order in circa 5-6 weeks.

TR-294H  Damask Fabric Roman Tunicle

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A limited edition cream/golden silk content brocade fabric Roman Tunicle Set.  Complete with single "H" intricate orphreys.  Supplied with Maniple (no stole)

 

Comes fully lined. Beautifully constructed and in traditional open sided Roman styling.  (Linings are same colour as external fabrics).

Golden braid decoration and edging.  Lined as standard and available to order in circa 6 weeks

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Available in Cream/Gold with Red
 

Leadtime - circa 6 weeks.

New product

TR-393H  Damask Fabric Roman Tunicle

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A limited edition silk content brocade fabric Roman Tunicle Set.  Complete with single "H" intricate orphreys.  Supplied with Maniple (no stole)

 

Comes fully lined. Beautifully constructed and in traditional open sided Roman styling.  (Linings are same colour as external fabrics).

Golden braid decoration and edging.  Lined as standard.

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Available in the following colours:  Green/with Red orphreys (as shown), Red/with Red orphreys, Purple/with Red orphreys, Cream/with red orphreys. 

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Leadtime - circa 6 weeks.

New product

TR051-51G  Brocade Roman Tunicle

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A limited edition gold, silk brocade fabric Roman Tunicle Set.  Complete with intricate H orphreys. 

 

Decorative Red/Gold Single H Orphreys to front and rear edged in decorative braid. 

 

Comes complete with Maniple. (No Stole)

 
Golden braid decoration and edging. 

New product

Available in the following colours:  Gold/Red, Gold/Gold, Red/Red.  Leadtime - circa 6-8 weeks.

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