Vestry word meaning and definition

[noun] a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept or meetings are held
[noun] in the Protestant Episcopal Church: a committee elected by the congregation to work with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church

\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.

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