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. + -(E)RY, substituted for OF. vestiarie, vestiaire: see VESTIARY. Cf. REVESTRY.]
1. 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 connection 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 wt in the sayd.
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. Ibid. (1506–7), 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. T. 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. Mme. D’Arblay, 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., trans. 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. In English parishes: An assembly or meeting of the parishioners or a certain number of these, held usually 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, church wardens 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.
This body had formerly the administration and management of the whole of the business affairs of the parish; but now its authority is almost entirely restricted to certain temporal matters connected with the parish church, its former powers being invested in the Parish or District Council.
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 Eldership and Vestry.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 6 April 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. A. 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.
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.
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.
1891. Cent. Dict.
† 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, fire, -keeper, 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. trans. 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. Ibid. (1855), Dorrit, xiv. Having stirred the Vestry fire, he looked round the shelves of registers.
b. In sense 2, as vestry assessment, -brother, -business, -consult (= consultation), 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 or 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 churchwardens’ 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, Our 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: Vestral a., of or pertaining to a vestry or vestries. Vestralization, administration by means of vestries. Vestrical a., = vestral. Vestrification, the action of vestrifying. Vestrified (ppl.) a., governed by a vestry. Vestrify v. trans., to transform into, cause to resemble, a vestry in character or function. Vestrydom, the system of local government by a vestry or vestries; parochial vestries collectively; hence, the parochial narrow-mindedness or selfish spirit regarded as characteristic of vestries. Vestryhood, = prec. Vestryish a., affected with or characterized by the spirit of vestrydom. Vestryism, vestrydom. Vestryize v. trans., = vestrify.
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 March, 5/1. The wastefulness of *vestralization.
1881. Daily News, 31 Jan., 5. The magistrate … discovered on Saturday an instance of *vestrical sapience which [etc.]. Ibid. (1884), 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.
