Frank & Brian+,

 (snip)
> Again, let me stress how remarkably little we know about Briish 
> Christianity...........
 Mark+
(snip)

True, we know too little.  On the other hand, let's not fret too much about 
abesses
wearing miters.  Abbots, with no episcopal authority, also wore and still 
wear                 miters.  They cannot confirm and they cannot ordain, 
but they wear the miter as
the symbol of their office.

At least one RC Benedictine abbot in this country was chosen to be a bishop.
He then went through full consecration (now being called 'ordination' for 
some
reason).  His abbatial powers were not considered sufficient.

A Franciscan was chosen to be bishop in Boston to straighten out the mess 
left
by ++Law.  No question here as Franciscans are not monks and do not have 
abbots.

(Franciscan missionaries have always been upset by cannibals who insisted
on boiling them for dinner.  As everyone should know, they are friars.)
Will+