vestry

/'vestri/

Thân thiện

The priest prepares for the service in the vestry.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A room in a church: A room in a church where sacred vessels, vestments (ceremonial robes), and other liturgical items are stored. It is also often used for meetings or as a robing room for clergy and choir members.
   • A committee in a church: In some Christian denominations, particularly the Anglican/Episcopal tradition, a "vestry" is an elected committee of parishioners responsible for managing the non-spiritual, practical, and financial affairs of the church.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Room):
  • The priest prepared for the service in the vestry.
  • The historic chalice is kept securely in the church vestry.
• Noun (Committee):
  • The vestry met to approve the annual budget.
  • She was elected to serve on the vestry for a three-year term.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the vestry": To be a member of the church's administrative committee.
  • After years of volunteering, he was asked to be on the vestry.
• "Vestry meeting": A meeting of this administrative committee.
  • The issue will be discussed at the next vestry meeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Vestment (n): The ceremonial robes worn by clergy and choir members, which are often stored in a vestry.
  • The bishop's ornate vestments were carefully laid out.
• Vestryman/Vestrywoman (n): A member of a vestry (committee).
  • As a vestrywoman, her role involved overseeing building maintenance.

Synonyms

• Sacristy (n): A room in a church for keeping sacred vessels and vestments; often used interchangeably with "vestry," though a sacristy is sometimes specifically where items for Mass/Eucharist are prepared.
• Committee (n): A group of people appointed for a specific function. (This is a synonym for the committee sense of "vestry").

Related Phrases

• "Meet in the vestry": To have a meeting in the church's vestry room.
  • The choir director asked the singers to meet in the vestry after the service.

Học thuật

Noun

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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sacristy