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I have been quiet of late, away in England.
I was photographed yesterday morning after having played the organ for my Bishop's Mass. I was at a meeting and I was ready for remarks about my hair. Amazingly, I seemed to "pull it off".
The day before, our meeting was in London at Westminster Central Hall, the high place of the Methodists who lend us one of their rooms. My astounding discovery was a life-sized statue of John Wesley, whose life spanned most of the 18th century. As a simple priest in the Church of England, he did not wear a wig - but had beautiful long grey hair.
So much for Christian clergy having to have short hair!
I was also photographed in the street in Canterbury. I saw the camera pointing straight at me. I looked at the person and said "You're welcome" - which should teach him to photograph someone without asking! But, I understand that a black cassock, lengthening hair and a watch chain make quite an impression!
My hair is coming on well, and my curls do something for my "awkward phase". The thing is to be brave with it and just rub it in with people. They have nowhere to go. The rest is patience.
Best wishes to you all, and congratulations for more growth, and my sympathies for those who have accidents and burn their hair.
Anthony
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I look forward to the time when you are past the awkward stage, Anthony. You seem to do well through this time, but I know you will love it when your hair is "officially" long.
So do I. However, my first meeting with my Bishop and fellow priests, in quite a conservative Church as our, was probably facilitated by my hair not being completely long, but long enough not to look like neglected hair in need of cutting. By the time next year's Synod comes around, I will be ponytailing even if my front bang will still need to be tucked behind my ears.
John Wesley is a wonderful example of a longhair clergyman, and it's more difficult to try to pretend that long hair on men is wrong just because of a misinterpreted saying of St Paul.
Yes, I am assuming the awkward stage by being forthright in its and not being offended if people laugh at me, especially when I'm wearing clericals. I just keep it clean, combed and neat - and just let it do what it wants. I like my curls.
I will be revelling in it when I get beyond 12 inches or so. Most of my hair is about 5 1/2 inches. My front bang is a bit slower at 4 1/2 inches. Even as I am, the feeling of running my fingers up the back of my head is wonderful. Just imagine what it will be like in a year's time!
Then there's safety if we do practical work. Soldering irons, gas flames, the kitchen, heaters, anything. There are also bad people who do harm to people's hair. We will be encouraged to do things so much more carefully.
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Thanks, Anthony, for the post on John Wesley. I haven't thought of his picture for years. Having been brought up a Methodist I do remember seeing his picture hanging in the hallway of my church I grew up with. I'll feel right at home in church, now.
When I was a kid, our Methodist Church had a picture of Jesus hanging in the sanctuary. He had long hair, too!
Bill
Holy founders are one thing. The churches they founded are another, and not all Methodist ministers are longhairs. They are probably fewer than in the general population of males. At least they can't say it's wrong and venerate the founding father at the same time. And, of course, all the evidence points to Christ being long-haired (cf. the Shroud of Turin and the long tradition of icon-painting).
I am intrigued about Wesley's long hair and his disastrous marriage. Even in the 18th century, short hair was the norm and the "long hair" of the ruling classes was artificial - the powdered wig. Wesley was often teased about it when he was at Oxford, and simply answered that he didn't have money to waste on barbers! He wore his hair long all his adult life.
There are different accounts about his wife. What did she hate most? Her husband's preaching tours away from home or his long hair? She dragged him across the floor by his hair on one occasion and pulled the lock right out! Even today, we don't have helplines for battered husbands! My own wife is something of a dragon (!) at times - but nothing as bad as Mary Wesley.
At least no one at church can condemn you for long hair!
Anthony
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I have just written an article about John Wesley, which includes more portraits showing his amazing hairstyles. Even if you're not interested in religion, these portraits are worth seeing.
Anthony
My blog
Great pics - glad you are enjoying the journey. I took part in a demonstration against the US spy base in Yorkshire a few years ago, and one of those present was a ponytailed Anglican priest from somewhere near Scarborough. Don't know what the opinion of his Bishop was, though!
gee, who says clergy can't be sexy...
I'm lucky with my Bishop. He doesn't seem to mind. He has short hair but has a beard and moustache. I take care to make myself indispensable! It's good that he has seen me in my awkward stage before I get into ponytails and really have fun!
Just a word from my wife - she's looking forward to it getting long because the curls are too high up in the awkward stage. Encouraging...
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Don't know what the opinion of his Bishop was, though!
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The hair is coming along nicely so far. Keep it up.
Interesting person this John Wesley guy, maybe I should look him up.
... : I was photographed yesterday morning after having played the organ for my Bishop's Mass. I was at a meeting and I was ready for remarks about my hair. Amazingly, I seemed to "pull it off".
Well Anthony, your hair looks terrific; so why should there be any negative comments? As a very famous longhaired man once said over 2000 years ago, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (Matthew 6: verse #28 and #29)
Isn't long hair on a man just as natural and beautiful as a flower in the field? Anybody who is foolish enough to suggest you should cut your hair is probably also the same type of person who would unthinkingly mow down the lilies...
'Nough said!
"Onward & Downward!"
- Ken in San Francisco
Thanks for the kind word. Indeed, growing hair is about discovering our true humanity, because it is natural and part of our organism.
I belong to a conservative Church and I was expecting people to be surprised, but actually they were not. No one came out with any comment implying that I should have short hair - to conform with a particular interpretation of the Scriptures or their notion of good fashion.
My father said absolutely nothing about my hair. My sister who is a fairly strict Baptist simply expressed surprise: "Ooh! Long hair". My family is generally very tolerant. 30 years ago I would have been asked to go to the barber, but now my mother is gone, my father is frail and I'm in my mid 50's and seemingly old enough to know what I want with its consequences.
Only my wife finds my hair ugly, but she seems reconciled to the idea that it will look better when it gets longer. Really, she doesn't like anything that doesn't come from her ideas - typical! That's the usual thing - so onwards and downwards, growin' and flowin', ...
Anthony
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Hi Anthony, thanks for sharing those pictures... you are looking great... I am also glad for you showing longhairs in church history...there are many (and long beards too!)
All the best on the journey... The Spaf Man
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for another wonderful post and story! You are looking great with your hair growing longer I must say! I am not surprised you heard no remarks! And your hair is only going to look better the longer it grows! You must be looking good if people are photographing you! I certainly don't have that problem! Please keep it growing and please stay well my friend!
Ted