Colours in the Anglican Church
Purple is a royal colour symbolising that Jesus is our king. It also a serious colour, and the church uses it for times of preparation as we get ready to encounter God in the great festivals of Christmas and Easter. Purple is used at funerals.
Gold and white are the colours of celebration and so are used at the great festivals. They are also used to celebrate baptisms and weddings.
Red is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and also as the colour of blood so it is used on days dedicated to the memory of the saints and martyrs who gave their lives in service to God.
Green is the colour of the creation and of growing, and so is used in the times when we are learning more and growing in our faith.
Between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, and again between Pentecost and Advent Sunday are many weeks when we learn more about Jesus, about the Bible and how it is so relevant to us in our own time. For all these weeks, which are known as ‘Ordinary Time’, the church is decorated in green.