Who wears Preaching Bands?

Preaching bands, also called ‘Geneva bands’ or ‘Preaching tabs’, are two small strips of cloth worn hanging from the collars of Clergy, Lawyers and Academics. 

Members of the Clergy belonging to Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches are often seen wearing these while preaching their sermons during formal services.

Preaching bands are commonly worn as part of Choir Dress.

Barristers and Judges wear these ‘tabs’ or ‘Barrister’s bands’ as part of their formal legal robes during court.

Academics and University officials also tend to wear these preaching bands as a traditional part of their Academic dress. 

They were adopted by many in the early eighteenth century as part of their formal attire, deriving from the detachable shirt collars that became popular at this time, these bands started off as a ruff worn in ordinary lay fashion that went through many variations before reaching the standard two strips of cloth that are tied at the throat with strings. Public figures and Ministers took to wearing them as a way to mark an individual's official standing within society. 

Our Wippells Preaching bands come with a foldable tab that can easily be inserted into the collar gap ready for when duty calls.