Verger: Difference between revisions
SteveMacas (talk | contribs) Created page with "{{Short description|Assistant in church services}} link=File:Consecration_of_the_9th_Anglican_Bishop_of_Portsmouth_(c)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2072286.jpg|right|thumb|Verger of [[Portsmouth Cathedral (left) leads the bishop in procession.]] A '''verger''' (or '''virger''', so called after the staff of the office, or '''wandsman''' in British English though arch..." |
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A '''verger''' (or '''virger''', so called after the staff of the office, or '''wandsman''' in British English though archaic)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/wandsman|title=Wandsman Definition & Meaning|publisher=Dictionary.com|date=|accessdate=2022-08-21}}</ref> is a person, usually a [[Laity|layperson]], who assists in the ordering of religious services. | A '''verger''' (or '''virger''', so called after the staff of the office, or '''wandsman''' in British English though archaic)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/wandsman|title=Wandsman Definition & Meaning|publisher=Dictionary.com|date=|accessdate=2022-08-21}}</ref> is a person, usually a [[Laity|layperson]], who assists in the ordering of religious services. | ||
== Etymology == | == Etymology == | ||
The title of ''verger'' arises from the ceremonial rod they traditionally carry known as a [[virge]] (from the Latin "branch, staff, rod"). The [[Ceremonial mace|Maces of State]] used in the [[House of Lords]] and the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[British Parliament]] are examples of another modern use of the medieval virge. In former times, a verger might have needed to use his virge to keep back animals or an overenthusiastic crowd from the personage he was escorting or even to discipline unruly choristers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=McGraw|first=Kate|date=12 May 2013|title=Verger 'like a master of ceremonies' in church|work=Albuquerque Journal|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/198194/verger-like-a-master-of-ceremonies-in-church.html|access-date=29 June 2022}}</ref> | |||
The title of ''verger'' arises from the ceremonial rod they traditionally carry known as a [[virge]] (from the Latin | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
The office of verger has its roots in the early days of the [[Church of England]]'s history. The Order shares certain similarities with the former [[Minor Orders]] of [[Ostiarius|Porter]] and [[Acolyte]]. Historically, vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of a house of worship, including the care of the church buildings, its furnishings, and sacred [[relics]], preparations for [[liturgy]], conduct of the laity, and grave-digging responsibilities. Although there is no definitive historical examination of the office of verger, evidence from [[Rochester Cathedral|Rochester]], [[Lincoln Cathedral|Lincoln]], [[Exeter Cathedral|Exeter]], and [[Salisbury Cathedral|Salisbury Cathedrals]] points to the existence of vergers even in the 16th century. The symbol of a | The office of verger has its roots in the early days of the [[Church of England]]'s history. The Order shares certain similarities with the former [[Minor Orders]] of [[Ostiarius|Porter]] and [[Acolyte]]. Historically, vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of a house of worship, including the care of the church buildings, its furnishings, and sacred [[relics]], preparations for [[liturgy]], conduct of the laity, and grave-digging responsibilities. Although there is no definitive historical examination of the office of verger, evidence from [[Rochester Cathedral|Rochester]], [[Lincoln Cathedral|Lincoln]], [[Exeter Cathedral|Exeter]], and [[Salisbury Cathedral|Salisbury Cathedrals]] points to the existence of vergers even in the 16th century. The symbol of a guild of cathedral vergers is the crossed keys. | ||
== Duties == | == Duties == | ||
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== Modern function == | == Modern function == | ||
Some vergers see their role as one of welcoming or hospitality, encompassing duties such as arranging [[Wedding|weddings]] and [[Funeral|funerals]] or meeting important visitors such as [[Bishop|bishops]]. | Some vergers see their role as one of welcoming or hospitality, encompassing duties such as arranging [[Wedding|weddings]] and [[Funeral|funerals]] or meeting important visitors such as [[Bishop|bishops]]. Vergers at [[Westminster Abbey]], for example, also lead [[Tour guide|guided tours]]. | ||
In small churches, the office of the verger is often combined with that of the [[Sexton (office)|sexton]], who is responsible for maintaining church buildings and grounds. In some organizations the functions of the sexton and the verger are performed by the same person. Equally, many churches have neither a verger nor a sexton and these duties fall to the [[Churchwarden|churchwardens]]. | In small churches, the office of the verger is often combined with that of the [[Sexton (office)|sexton]], who is responsible for maintaining church buildings and grounds. In some organizations the functions of the sexton and the verger are performed by the same person. Equally, many churches have neither a verger nor a sexton and these duties fall to the [[Churchwarden|churchwardens]]. | ||
== Cultural references == | == Cultural references == | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Acolyte]] | * [[Acolyte]] | ||
* [[Altar server]] | * [[Altar server]] | ||
* [[Churchwarden]] | * [[Churchwarden]] | ||
* [[Sacristan]] | * [[Sacristan]] | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* [http://cofegv.org.uk/ The Church of England Guild of Vergers] | * [http://cofegv.org.uk/ The Church of England Guild of Vergers] | ||
* [ | * [https://acnavergers.com/ Vergers Guild of the Anglican Church in North America] | ||
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2072286.jpg&action=edit&redlink=1){kind=link}
Latest revision as of 17:29, 6 October 2025
A verger (or virger, so called after the staff of the office, or wandsman in British English though archaic)[1] is a person, usually a layperson, who assists in the ordering of religious services.
Etymology
The title of verger arises from the ceremonial rod they traditionally carry known as a virge (from the Latin "branch, staff, rod"). The Maces of State used in the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the British Parliament are examples of another modern use of the medieval virge. In former times, a verger might have needed to use his virge to keep back animals or an overenthusiastic crowd from the personage he was escorting or even to discipline unruly choristers.[2]
History
The office of verger has its roots in the early days of the Church of England's history. The Order shares certain similarities with the former Minor Orders of Porter and Acolyte. Historically, vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of a house of worship, including the care of the church buildings, its furnishings, and sacred relics, preparations for liturgy, conduct of the laity, and grave-digging responsibilities. Although there is no definitive historical examination of the office of verger, evidence from Rochester, Lincoln, Exeter, and Salisbury Cathedrals points to the existence of vergers even in the 16th century. The symbol of a guild of cathedral vergers is the crossed keys.
Duties
During the service itself, a verger's main duty is ceremonially to precede the religious participants as they move about the church; they do not typically take any speaking part in the service itself.[3] It could be argued that a verger's main pride during a service lies in their inconspicuousness; vergers often play a very prominent role "behind the scenes"—helping to plan the logistical details of service and discreetly shepherding the clergy through it (in some churches these latter duties are handled by a Master of Ceremonies, while the verger functions as a sort of marshal in the procession).
Robes
The typical robes of a verger are a black gown worn over a black cassock. The gown is somewhat like an academic gown and is open-fronted in the English tradition. It is common for a verger's gown to bear the arms of the church, usually on one or both sleeves. It can be trimmed with velvet, which may be in another colour (a colour prominently associated with the cathedral, for instance). Formally, a jabot may be worn at the neck.
Less formally, a verger may wear a gown without a cassock below, or, conversely, a cassock without the gown. In more modern settings, a verger might wear a scapular instead of a gown.
If a verger also serves at the altar during divine worship, the gown is often replaced with a surplice.
Modern function
Some vergers see their role as one of welcoming or hospitality, encompassing duties such as arranging weddings and funerals or meeting important visitors such as bishops. Vergers at Westminster Abbey, for example, also lead guided tours.
In small churches, the office of the verger is often combined with that of the sexton, who is responsible for maintaining church buildings and grounds. In some organizations the functions of the sexton and the verger are performed by the same person. Equally, many churches have neither a verger nor a sexton and these duties fall to the churchwardens.
Cultural references
Perhaps the best-known portrait of an Anglican verger in fiction is in Somerset Maugham's short story "The Verger". In British popular culture, the BBC sitcom Dad's Army featured a bumbling caricature of a verger named Maurice Yeatman, played by Edward Sinclair.