vestry

noun

ves·​try ˈve-strē 

plural vestries

1

a

: sacristy

b

: a room used for church meetings and classes

2

a

: the business meeting of an English parish

b

: an elective body in an Episcopal parish composed of the rector and a group of elected parishioners administering the temporal affairs of the parish

Synonyms

• sacristy

Examples of vestry in a Sentence

the priest returned the chalice to the vestry

Recent Examples on the Web

My childhood was full of visits to musty vestries in Milwaukee and Memphis and Marseille, as my dad wrote traveler’s checks to various priests in his most formal handwriting. —John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

The 36 unique rooms and suites (including six suites in a former vestry across a courtyard) form an opulent oasis in the rustic Umbrian countryside. —Jason Horowitz, Town & Country, 16 June 2023

Denise Day, a St. James parish member, said Dr. Griffin was appointed as the church’s first female senior warden of the vestry, the highest lay position. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2022

Since then, the vestry at St. Mark’s — a board of directors with 12 members who represent the political spectrum, Shumard said — voted unanimously to form a committee to explore hosting a family and take training through Episcopal Migration Ministries. —Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vestrie, probably from Anglo-French *vesterie, alteration of Middle French vestiarie, from Medieval Latin vestiarium, from Latin, cupboard for storing clothes, from vestis garment; from its use as a robing room for the clergy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

vestry

noun

ves·​try ˈves-trē 

plural vestries

: a room in a church building for sacred furnishings (as vestments)