Hypertext Webster Gateway: "vestry"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Vestry \Ves"try\, n.; pl. {Vestries}. [OE. vestrye, F.
vestiaire, L. vestiarium, fr. vestiarius belonging to
clothes, fr. vestis a garment. See {Vest}, n., and cf.
{Vestiary}.]
1. A room appendant to a church, in which sacerdotal
vestments and sacred utensils are sometimes kept, and
where meetings for worship or parish business are held; a
sacristy; -- formerly called revestiary.

He said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring
forth vestments for all the worshipers of Baal. --2
Kings x. 22.

2. (Ch. of Eng.) A parochial assembly; an assembly of persons
who manage parochial affairs; -- so called because usually
held in a vestry.

3. (Prot. Epis. Ch.) A body, composed of wardens and
vestrymen, chosen annually by a parish to manage its
temporal concerns.

{Metropolitan vestry}, in the city of London, and certain
specified parishes and places in England, a body composed
of householders who pay poor rates. Its duties include the
repair of churches, care of highways, the appointment of
certain officers, etc.

{Select vestry}, a select number of persons chosen in large
and populous English parishes to represent and manage the
concerns of the parish for one year. --Mozley & W.

{Vestry board} (Ch. of Eng.), a vestry. See def. 2, above.

{Vestry clerk}, an officer chosen by the vestry, who keeps a
record of its proceedings; also, in England, one who keeps
the parish accounts and books.

{Vestry meeting}, the meeting of a vestry or vestry board;
also, a meeting of a parish held in a vestry or other
place.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Revestiary \Re*ves"ti*a*ry\, n. [LL. revestiarium: cf. F.
revestiaire. See {Revest}.]
The apartment, in a church or temple, where the vestments,
etc., are kept; -- now contracted into {vestry}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

vestry
n 1: in the Protestant Episcopal Church: a committee elected by
the congregation to work with the churchwardens in
managing the temporal affairs of the church
2: a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are
kept or meetings are held [syn: {sacristy}]


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