What does the Verger do?

 

The Office of Verger (Virger, Custos, Sub-Sacrist, Serjeant of the Vestry, or even ‘Church Mouse’) is an ancient one and means ‘He who carries the Virge before the procession’. The ‘Verge’ is the rod of office (Latin - Virga; Old French-Vergier), and was used to ensure that the many processions were not impeded during worship. This was an important duty in the Middle Ages, and on important festivals two Vergers were on duty.

However, the Verger’s duties have developed over the centuries, and now combine tasks which were often carried out by other individuals.

Today, Vergers continue to have an important ceremonial role, but add management responsibilities, with the care of people and a variety of other duties , including the behind-the-scenes management of worship and the care of vestments, plate and other valuable objects.

Vergers are committed Christians dedicated to serving Our Lord Jesus Christ and his Church. Their work brings them into contact with a whole spectrum of people who visit our churches and cathedrals, and they must be sensitive to the widely varying needs of these visitors. Many will be seeking historical information or just the time of the services, but others may be in emotional or spiritual distress, and to these the verger must offer a sympathetic ear, guiding them towards appropriate counselling if required.

At a practical level vergers will often bear the immediate responsibility for the care and security of the building and - particularly in many parish churches - the presence of the verger guarantees that the building can remain open outside service times as a place of prayer and of Christian witness to the local or wider community.

The Verger’s Prayer

Almighty Father, from whom every family in Heaven and earth is named, who has called us into the fellowship of Your Church, grant, we pray, that in all our Churches we may fulfil the duties and enjoy the privileges of our spiritual home. And on those who offer themselves for service as Vergers in the House of God bestow the fullness of Your Grace, that , united in love to You and to one another, we may show forth Your glory and hasten the coming of Your Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

The Church of England Guild of Vergers (CEGV) was founded in 1932, and has as its Patrons the Archbishops of Canterbury and York who take a very keen interest in the Guild, and together they appoint a priest to act as the National Chaplain

The Guild was founded to promote Christian Fellowship and spiritual guidance among the Vergers of the Cathedrals and Parish Churches of England. It has a current membership of around 800 with a further 100 members overseas, witnessing to the Guild’s influence in other parts of the Anglican Communion

MEMBERSHIP OF THE GUILD is open to all persons employed or occupied regularly, whether full or part time, or as a voluntary verger (however titled), in the Provinces throughout the Anglican Communion. The Central Council may also invite and accept applications from interested persons, perhaps in other denominations, to become Associate Members of the Guild. Such Associate Members having no voting rights.

THE OBJECTS OF THE GUILD, AS DEFINED IN THE GUILD’S CONSTITUTION, ARE:

To provide and promote Christian fellowship and spiritual guidance for its Members.

To provide the means and opportunities for communication and discussion of ideas and proposals of common interest to Members.

To organise and promote courses of training in the work and for the ministry of the Verger in all its aspects.                                                                                                  

To raise by subscriptions from its Members the funds required to administer the Guild and achieve its objects;                                                                                                 

To record the gamut of work undertaken by Vergers. In addition noting each Member's training, experience and qualifications;                                                       

To promote Funds of Benevolence for Guild Members, the funds to be financed from contributions of its Members;                                                                                        

To engage such persons as required by the Guild, upon such terms as the Central Council may require in order to further the Guild's objects; and Upon request to advise and make recommendations as to the terms of employment of any Member.