Forthcoming Events
From Monastery to Mortar Boards – a living history of academic dress
Date: Thursday 19th November 2026 Time: 18:00
Type: Public
Location: Voces8 Centre at St Anne and St Agnes Church, Gresham Street, London EC2V 7BX
A joint meeting of Burgon Society with the Freemen and Liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Educators as part of the Master's Seminar programme – Faith in Education
This event provides a special opportunity to share with Educators, (who have a black academic robe as their formal “clothing”), the Burgon Society's fascination with academic dress. With the help of the Master Educator and the Burgon Society's Chairman we will share the history of our organisations and their traditions of robes/regalia of office.
Speakers from the Burgon Society will explain the roots of academical dress in medieval clerical garb and sumptuary laws and give a whistle stop tour of key features of robes for those new to the topic. We will be showing examples from the Burgon Society Archives and bringing a range of academic dress from faith-based universities and other religious institutions which Members may not have seen.
We ask those attending to come wearing interesting examples of academic dress if they can and for Burgon Society members to be ready to explain what they are wearing to other participants. Educators are welcome to wear their normal black gown in any case.