I like my doctors to look, dress and act like doctors, my priests to look, dress and act like priests.
The uniform is mostly symbolic, but it performs a service and is a visual cue to all. To go full on ‘dress-down’ seems to be the wish of someone wanting to hide their presence or timidly approach their duties. Most of us do not want the priest to ‘blend right in’ with everyone else in every way.
Certainly not during the service.
Tennies aside for health reasons, an Angelican priest conducting an hour long service in Saturday-chores clothes seems akin to a judge tossing his black robe as meaningless.
They can wear dresses and ankle socks Monday to Saturday for all I care, but for one hour a week, maybe 3 at the most, there should be at least some semblance and reminder of dignity and respect when addressing and acting in the name of The Almighty.
The Church of England has fewer than a million of its members at services on any given Sunday, and its membership decline is so steep through deaths alone that it may cease to exist in 20 years. Having a magnificent Anglican service led by a priest in jeans and t-shirt, or having an Archbishop who looks like he is ready to head out to walk the mall, is certainly a bold move to address the crisis.