Vestries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
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              He said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring
              forth vestments for all the worshipers of Baal. --2
                                                    Kings x. 22.
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     2. (Ch. of Eng.) A parochial assembly; an assembly of persons
        who manage parochial affairs; -- so called because usually
        held in a vestry.
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     3. (Prot. Epis. Ch.) A body, composed of wardens and
        vestrymen, chosen annually by a parish to manage its
        temporal concerns.
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     {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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