A Coventry-based clergywoman is transforming how female priests dress, offering them the chance to create their own clerical wear that is both comfortable and expressive. The Reverend Naomi Nixon, a minister at St Clare's at the Cathedral, has developed patterns for clerical tops and dresses, empowering women in the clergy to move away from garments originally designed for men.
Rev Nixon, who was ordained 25 years ago, recalled a time when only male shirts were available, often adapted poorly for women. Later options included expensive, made-to-measure tops that took considerable time to arrive and felt disconnected from everyday wear. Her 'eureka moment' came after she discovered a love for sewing, leading her to create a pattern for a smart, stretchy top with a neat collar. Initially selling her creations to raise funds for her church, she was met with overwhelming demand, with a batch of ten tops selling out online within 20 minutes.
Recognising the widespread need, Rev Nixon decided to make her patterns accessible to a wider audience. Clergywomen can now purchase her St Lydia and St Felicity top and dress patterns as digital downloads, with printed versions also available at the St Clare's shop. To date, over 650 patterns have been sold, receiving what she describes as 'wonderful' feedback from users. The initiative allows women to choose fabrics and colours that resonate with them, from rainbow stripes for Pride to specific colours for family events, fostering a sense of individuality.
The impact of Rev Nixon's work is evident in testimonials from clergywomen like the Reverend Tanya Lord, a vicar at St. Nicholas Church in Hull. Rev Lord has purchased several of Nixon's short-sleeved shirts and made numerous tops and dresses using the patterns, including one adorned with rainbow-coloured hearts. She highlighted the prohibitive cost of ready-made clergy dresses, often costing around £100, and praised the simplicity and proper shaping of the St Clare's Clericals patterns, making them an affordable alternative when combined with sale fabric purchases.
This innovative approach not only addresses a practical need for suitable and affordable clerical attire but also champions self-expression within the clergy. It allows female priests to feel more 'normal' and authentic in their professional lives, choosing clothes that reflect their personality and faith, rather than being confined to generic, often ill-fitting, options.