▪ I. vestry1
(ˈvɛstrɪ)
Forms: 4, 6 westre, 6 vestre; 5 vestri, 5–6 vestrye, 6–7 vestrie (6 vestorie, 7 vesterie), 5– vestry.
[Prob. a. AF. *vest(e)rie, f. vest v. + -ery, substituted for OF. vestiarie, vestiaire: see vestiary. Cf. revestry.]
1. a. A room or part of a church, usually situated in close proximity to the chancel or choir, in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept, and in which the clergy and choir robe for divine service; a room used for similar purposes in connexion with any church, chapel, or place of worship.
The vestry of parish churches is also used as a place of meeting for the transaction of certain parochial business (see 2).
| 1388 in Archaeologia LII. 213 The awter w{supt} in the sayd westre. 14.. in Wr.-Wülcker 619 Vestibulum, a vestrye. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 509/2 Vestrye, vestiarium. 1496–7 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 225 For colys to brenne in the vestrye. 1506–7 Ibid. 261 Payd for makyng of ij keyes for the tresory chest in the vestry, vi d. 1540–1 in Archaeologia XIX. 272 On the South Syde of the same Churche ys the Vestrye well covered with lead. 1593 Rites of Durham (Surtees, 1903) 8 When the monkes went to say or singe the high masse they put on theire vestments..in the Vestrye. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 110 In the Vesterie lie the bodies of nine kings in coffins of wood. 1682 N. O. Boileau's Lutrin iii. 25 With equal pace the Temples Nave they measure! Into the Vestry came: Here lies the Treasure! 1698 Froger Voy. 111 The Jesuits are very potent there... Their Vestry is one of the most magnificent that ever was seen. 1756–7 Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 73 Formerly, in the Tribuna hung a large picture of St. Joseph;..but this is removed into the vestry. 1796 F. Burney Camilla I. 303 They sauntered about the church while the Doctor retired to the vestry to take off his gown. 1798 Southey Surgeon's Warning xxiii, Three men in the vestry watch To save him if they can. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xxviii, The ceremony was performed..in the parish church,..and Mr. Pickwick's name is attached to the register, still preserved in the vestry thereof. 1864 A. McKay Hist. Kilmarnock 225 The church consists of a nave with an organ-gallery, a chancel, and a vestry. 1873 Hale In His Name viii. 73 Candles which furnished the light to the dim vestry. |
| fig. 1648 Milton Observ. Art. Peace Wks. 1851 IV. 572 So that this rough Garment to deceive, we bring ye once again, Grave Sirs, into your own Vestry. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Swedenborg Wks. (Bohn) I. 324 The worshipper, escaping from the vestry of verbs and texts, is surprised to find himself a party to the whole of his religion. |
b. A similar room or part in a temple or other non-Christian place of worship.
| 1535 Coverdale 2 Kings x. 22 Then sayde he vnto him that had the rule of the vestrye: Brynge forth rayment for all Baals mynisters. 1584 B. R. tr. Herodotus i. 57 In this sacred house or vestry no image is erected. 1609 Bible (Douay) Ezek. xliv. 19 They shal put of from them their vestiments..and shal lay them up in the vesterie of the sanctuarie. 1641 Milton Reform. i. Wks. 1851 III. 2 In Palls and Miters, gold and guegaw's fetcht from Arons old wardrope, or the Flamins vestry. |
c. A place or room where clothes (
† or valuables) are kept; a robing room, cloak-room;
† a treasure house or chamber. Now
rare.
| 1574 Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1577) 263 Also they make report of your Ladyship here, that you entred the vestorie or treasure house of Toledo, to fetche the plate that was there. 1600 Holland Livy xxix. xxi. 725 For all the holy money which they found..they bestowed againe in the privie vestries where the treasure was kept. 1613 T. Godwin Rom. Antiq. (1625) 109 By the Scene in this place, I vnderstand the partition betweene the players vestry, and the stage or scaffold. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. (1900) 192 Then said the Interpreter again to the Damsel that waited upon these Women, Go into the Vestry and fetch out Garments for these People. 1891 G. Gissing New Grub Street I. 198 Where are your out-of-door things? I think there is a ladies' vestry somewhere isn't there? |
2. a. In English parishes: An assembly or meeting of the parishioners or a certain number of these, held originally in the vestry of the parish church, for the purpose of deliberating or legislating upon the affairs of the parish or upon certain temporal matters connected with the church (see next).
Also without article (
b).
| (a) 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1590) 24 This worke being finished and red ouer and ouer by the head of the parish, they called a Vestry, wherin they concluded [etc.]. 1596 in W. H. Hale Prec. Causes Office (1841) 87 That they cause a vestrye to be warned on Sondaye next..to mete at the evening the same daye. 1640 Minutes Archdeaconry of Essex (MS.) fol. 195 William Petchie..notatur for keeping a private vestry in Rookitt's hall on Easter Munday in tyme of divine service. 1642 Sir E. Dering Sp. on Relig. 90 The Parish Minister to hold weekly Vestries. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 6 Nov. 1692, There was a Vestry call'd about repairing or new building of the Church. 1762 Foote Orator i. Wks. 1799 I. 194, I did speechify once at a vestry. 1885 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 296/2 Common vestries are meetings of all the ratepayers, assembled on a three days' notice. |
| (b) 1764 in W. Wing Ann. Steeple Aston (1875) 63 It was agreed at vestry to sow Sandhill turnoops this next year. 1845 Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. (1874) I. 120 The affairs of a parish..are regulated in vestry, which is, properly speaking, an assembly of the minister, churchwardens and parishioners. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. iii, He himself had..gone birds'-nesting with the farmers whom he met at vestry. |
b. The body of parishioners meeting in this way and constituting a parochial board or council of management;
select vestry (
Obs. exc. Hist.) (see
quots. 1845, 1906).
This body had formerly the administration and management of the whole of the business affairs of the parish; but its authority was later restricted to certain temporal matters connected with the parish church, its former powers being invested in the Parish or District Council. In England the sole remaining power of the vestry is the election of churchwardens, its other ecclesiastical powers having been transferred to the parochial church council and the annual parochial church meeting.
| a 1672 M. Wren in Gutch Coll. Cur. I. 229 It was very difficult to find a man, who..followed the persuasion of Calvin, who had not also strong propensions to the Elder⁓ship and Vestry. 1698 MSS. House of Lords (1905) III. 261 Dec. 9. Poor Relief (Select Vestries) Bill.—Draft of an Act for preventing the Poor's being cheated. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 6 Apr. 1662, Being of the Vestry,..we order'd that the Communion Table should be set as usual altar-wise. 1708 Swift Reply to Bickerstaff detected S.'s Wks. 1755 II. i. 167 If I had not used my utmost interest with the vestry. 1766 Entick London IV. 45 The vestry is select, pursuant to the will of William Tudman, who, hoping thereby to prevent the inconveniences which usually arise from a general vestry [etc.]. 1792 Young Trav. France 549 The first attempt towards a democracy in England would be the common people demanding an admission and voice in the vestries. 1820 Southey Wesley II. 402 As the vestry would not be persuaded to erect a gallery, he built one at his own expense. 1845 Encycl. Metrop. XXIII. 486/2 In other Parishes,..the rate-payers place the powers intrusted to them in the hands of a small Body, chosen by them from their own number, called sometimes the Select Vestry, and sometimes the Guardians of the Poor. 1882 Besant Revolt of Man iv. (1883) 78 The Lower House..had degenerated into something noisier than a vestry. 1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 820/1 The vestries and district boards are entrusted with the management of local sewers, the lighting, paving, and cleaning of their own thoroughfares, and the removal of nuisances. 1906 S. & B. Webb Parish & County i. v. 173 The Close or..Select Vestry{ddd}consisted of a body of one or two dozen persons, or occasionally more, serving for life and filling vacancies among themselves by co-option. 1921 Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 4 From the commencement of this Measure there shall be transferred to the Council of every parish—(i) All powers, duties and liabilities of the Vestry of such parish relating to the affairs of the Church, except as regard the election of churchwardens and sidesmen and as regards the administration of ecclesiastical charities. 1959 Jowitt Dict. Eng. Law II. 1610/1 The Select Vestries Bill is the title of a Bill always formally read a first time in the House of Lords at the beginning of a new session before the House proceeds to debate the king's or queen's speech, as an assertion of its independence. |
c. Any similar body elected by members of the congregation of a church and invested with the conduct of its business affairs; a meeting of such body.
† 3. Clothing or vesture. Also
fig. Obs. rare.
| 1606 J. Welsh in Sel. Biog. (Wodrow Soc.) I. 22 She shall be arrayed with the golden vestry, and needlework of his manifold graces. 1616 B. Jonson Masques, Love freed fr. Ignorance, One o' the Black-guard had his hand in my vestrie. |
4. attrib. and
Comb. a. In sense 1, as
vestry door,
vestry fire,
vestry-keeper,
vestry window, etc.
| 1477–9 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 81 A key to the vestry dore beneth. 1510 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 200 The largienge of the vestrie dore. 1611 Cotgr., Sacristain, a Sexton, or Vestrie-keeper, in a Church. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. iii. 75 They are oblig'd..to give to the Popes Vestry-keeper..five and twenty Ducats. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Vestry-Keeper, a Sexton, whose Business is to look after the Vestry. 1772 tr. Life Lady Guion II. 5, I had taken the office of Sacristan (or Vestry Nun) and the care of waking the Sisters at the hour they were to rise. 1844 Dickens Mart. Chuz. xxxi, I have left the vestry window unfastened. 1855 ― Dorrit xiv, Having stirred the Vestry fire, he looked round the shelves of registers. |
b. In sense 2, as
vestry assessment,
vestry-brother,
vestry-business,
vestry-consult (
= consultation),
vestry meeting, etc.
| 1631 T. Powell Tom All Trades (1876) 139 Like a Reuerend Vestry wit. 1682 N. O. Boileau's Lutrin i. 224 Him time preferr'd..From poor Church-warden to a Vestry-brother. a 1683 Oldham Satyrs Wks. (1686) 194 At Vestry-Consults when he does appear For choosing of some Parish Officer. 1731 Gentl. Mag. I. 159 In the Parish where I serve, the Vestry is compos'd of thirty select Members, besides the Rector, and two Vestry Justices of the Peace. a 1734 North Exam. ii. v. §94 (1740) 374 No more of Plot than a Vestry Meeting to settle their Rates. 1808 Edin. Rev. XII. 509 An imperial sovereign summoned to settle a petty vestry⁓squabble! 1833 Act 3 & 4 Will. IV, c. 37 §63 Such Expences..as have been heretofore defrayed by Vestry Assessment in Ireland. 1888 W. Morris in Mackail Life (1899) II. 206, I don't see why they should not keep out of the vestry-business. |
c. Special
Combs.:
vestry-book, (
a) a book in which the proceedings of a parochial vestry are recorded; (
b) a book kept in a vestry in which the births, marriages, and deaths of the parishioners are registered;
vestry cess, in Ireland, a church rate or tax levied by a vestry;
vestry-clerk, the clerk of a parochial vestry;
vestry-tax = vestry-cess.
| 1773–4 Ir. Acts 13 & 14 Geo. III, c. 10 §4 The said election or nomination shall be entered in the *vestry book of every parish, union, or chapelry. 1789 Sir W. Scott in J. Haggard Rep. Consist. Crt. London (1822) I. 13 As..no poll appears for Anthony, and the vestry book, which must be taken to be the authentic book, makes no mention of him, I cannot look on him as elected. 1856 Lever Martins of Cro' M. lxv, I was sent for to the Castle to give a private baptism.., and requesting that I would bring the vestry-book along with me for the registration. 1912 A. Gordon in Jrnl. Friends' Hist. Soc. IX. 202 A modern forgery, entered in the church⁓wardens' vestry-book at Cheltenham. |
| 1864 Act 27 & 28 Vict. c. 17 §1 It is expedient to abolish *Vestry Cess in Ireland. |
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), *Vestry-Clerk, a Scrivener that keeps the Parish Accounts. 1763 Burn Eccl. Law II. 478 The vestry clerk is chosen by the vestry. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz, Parish ii, The vestry-clerk..is an attorney, and generally in a bustle. |
| 1807–8 Syd. Smith Plymley's Lett. Wks. 1859 II. 170/1, I request to know if the *vestry taxes in Ireland are a mere matter of romantic feeling? |
Hence in various terms, chiefly in nonce-use, with reference to sense 2:
ˈvestral a., of or pertaining to a vestry or vestries.
ˌvestraliˈzation, administration by means of vestries.
ˈvestrical a. = vestral adj. ˌvestrifiˈcation, the action of vestrifying.
ˈvestrified (ppl.) a., governed by a vestry.
ˈvestrify v. trans., to transform into, cause to resemble, a vestry in character or function.
ˈvestrydom, the system of local government by a vestry or vestries; parochial vestries collectively; hence, the parochial narrowmindedness or selfish spirit regarded as characteristic of vestries.
ˈvestryhood = prec. ˈvestryish a., affected with or characterized by the spirit of vestrydom.
ˈvestryism, vestrydom.
ˈvestryize v. trans. = vestrify vb.| 1884 Contemp. Rev. June 802 The fire-brigade as administered by the *vestral authorities. Ibid. 805 The disadvantages of disunity under the vestral administration. |
| 1886 Times 13 Mar. 5/1 The wastefulness of *vestralization. |
| 1881 Daily News 31 Jan. 5 The magistrate..discovered on Saturday an instance of *vestrical sapience which [etc.]. |
| 1884 Ibid. 31 Dec. 5/4 The *vestrification of Parliament. |
| 1865 Sat. Rev. 4 Feb. 144/1 We can hardly expect an ordinary *vestrified general-reading Englishman to understand..the intensity of passion [etc.]. |
| 1884 Chaplin in Daily News 5 Dec. 3/1 If he might coin a phrase, its general effect would be to *vestrify the House of Commons. |
| 1860 Temple Bar Mag. I. 80 It was the defeat of beadledom and *vestrydom. 1884 Christian World 22 May 409/1 The opposition raised by a stolid vestrydom to a more rational system of local self-government. |
| 1871 Contemp. Rev. XVI. 374 *Vestryhood had for generations flourished as a calling. |
| 1882 Society 16 Dec. 10/2 The public instinct recognises something petty and *vestryish about the Board. |
| 1861 Illustr. Lond. News 23 Feb. 168/1 The House displayed a greater tendency to what may be called ‘*vestryism’ than ever. 1870 W. R. Greg Polit. Problems 226 To deal systematically and thoroughly with the giant evil of pauperism,..would bring those who undertook it face to face with the vast opposing army of vestryism. |
| 1869 Contemp. Rev. XI. 235 How many disappointed competitors for that honour..will submit to be *vestryized. |
▪ II. vestry2 Mining.
[Of uncertain origin.] The refuse or rubbish of a mine.
| 1784 (MS.), Rubbish and vestry from a lead mine. 1830 Eng. & For. Mining Gloss. (Newcastle), Vestry, refuse. |