Ye Olde Mitre

Ye Olde Mitre Inne is a public house in Barnet, London, though establishments around the country also bear the name. The mitre is that peculiar, pointed hat worn by bishops Roman, Orthodox and Anglican, and to which the bishop’s chess piece bears witness. It probably originated from the Phrygian cap which came from Persia and which was worn by some Romans. Anti-papalist tracts I have read linked its origins to Babylonian fish gods (the opening at the top corresponding to a fish’s or crocodile’s gaping mouth) though I see little convincing evidence for this. The headdress was dropped by British prelates at the Reformation, only to return to fashion when the Victorians re-ritualised the national church.

It may be helpful in large gatherings of the old liturgical churches to quickly identify who among the crowd has been consecrated a bishop and who has not. Yet the apostle, when writing to Timothy (1:3:2) suggests that he should be better recognised for his qualities and character than his outlandish hats:

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach…

Sobriety, fidelity and temperance are less glamorous than a bejewelled mitre of silk and damask, but they are, I think, more attractive qualities to the God of heaven.