vestry

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
vestry
    n 1: in the Protestant Episcopal Church: a committee elected by
         the congregation to work with the churchwardens in managing
         the temporal affairs of the church
    2: a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are
       kept or meetings are held [syn: {vestry}, {sacristy}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Revestiary \Re*ves"ti*a*ry\, n. [LL. revestiarium: cf. F.
   revestiaire. See {Revest}.]
   The apartment, in a church or temple, where the vestments,
   etc., are kept; -- now contracted into {vestry}.
   [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vestry \Ves"try\, n.; pl. {Vestries}. [OE. vestrye, F.
   vestiaire, L. vestiarium, fr. vestiarius belonging to
   clothes, fr. vestis a garment. See {Vest}, n., and cf.
   {Vestiary}.]
   1. A room appendant to a church, in which sacerdotal
      vestments and sacred utensils are sometimes kept, and
      where meetings for worship or parish business are held; a
      sacristy; -- formerly called revestiary.
      [1913 Webster]

            He said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring
            forth vestments for all the worshipers of Baal. --2
                                                  Kings x. 22.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Ch. of Eng.) A parochial assembly; an assembly of persons
      who manage parochial affairs; -- so called because usually
      held in a vestry.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Prot. Epis. Ch.) A body, composed of wardens and
      vestrymen, chosen annually by a parish to manage its
      temporal concerns.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Metropolitan vestry}, in the city of London, and certain
      specified parishes and places in England, a body composed
      of householders who pay poor rates. Its duties include the
      repair of churches, care of highways, the appointment of
      certain officers, etc.

   {Select vestry}, a select number of persons chosen in large
      and populous English parishes to represent and manage the
      concerns of the parish for one year. --Mozley & W.

   {Vestry board} (Ch. of Eng.), a vestry. See def. 2, above.

   {Vestry clerk}, an officer chosen by the vestry, who keeps a
      record of its proceedings; also, in England, one who keeps
      the parish accounts and books.

   {Vestry meeting}, the meeting of a vestry or vestry board;
      also, a meeting of a parish held in a vestry or other
      place.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
44 Moby Thesaurus words for "vestry":
      Council of Nicaea, Council of Trent, Easter sepulcher,
      Lateran Council, Vatican Council, ambry, apse, baptistery,
      blindstory, chancel, chapter, choir, classis, cloisters,
      conciliarism, conclave, conference, confessional, confessionary,
      congregation, consistory, convention, convocation, crypt,
      diaconicon, diaconicum, diocesan conference,
      ecclesiastical council, ecumenical council, nave,
      parochial church council, parochial council, plenary council,
      porch, presbytery, rood loft, rood stair, rood tower, sacrarium,
      sacristy, session, synod, transept, triforium

    

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