vestry

[ ves-tree ]

noun

, plural ves·tries.

1. a room in or a building attached to a church, in which the vestments, and sometimes liturgical objects, are kept; sacristy.
2. (in some churches) a room in or a building attached to a church, used as a chapel, for prayer meetings, for the Sunday school, etc.
3. Episcopal Church. a committee elected by members of a congregation to serve with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church.
4. Church of England. a meeting attended by all the parishioners or by a committee of parishioners during which the official business of the church is discussed.

vestry

/ ˈvɛstrɪ /

noun

1. a room in or attached to a church in which vestments, sacred vessels, etc, are kept
2. a room in or attached to some churches, used for Sunday school, meetings, etc
3. Church of England
   1. a meeting of all the members of a parish or their representatives, to transact the official business of the parish
   2. the body of members meeting for this; the parish council
4. Episcopal Church Anglican Church a committee of vestrymen chosen by the congregation to manage the temporal affairs of their church

Derived Forms

• ˈvestral, adjective

Other Words From

• vestral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vestry¹

1350–1400; Middle English vestrie, vestrye. See vest (v.), -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of vestry¹

C14: probably from Old French vestiarie; see vest

Example Sentences

Doreen Golding, 83, the Pearly Queen of Bow Bells and the Old Kent Road, shouted to the group as she led the way to the church vestry.

From New York Times

Thanks to vestry records dating back to 1732, when the church occupied a wooden chapel — and assistance from Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records — Hamly and his team of researchers learned a lot.

From Washington Post

"We put out an appeal on Facebook and that brought people from outside the church, from different walks of life and faiths," said vestry member Samuel Stewart.

From BBC

In the town centre, Heidi Jacobsen, who runs the Hope Pantry in the vestry of a beautiful church, is tackling a different problem.

From BBC

We hear how the Archbishop of Canterbury later helped revive her by giving her a swig of brandy in the vestry.

From BBC

Related Words

• church
• sanctuary
• shrine