medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Even today in the Church of England, the full-time paid official responsible
for the fabric and good material order of a church, and who is often also
responsible for putting vestments and vessels &c ready in the vestry
(=robing room) of a church is called the VERGER. He also walks robed,
usually in a black gown similar to an academic or lawyer's gown, in
processions, carrying the staff or rod which is his badge of office and
which is an attenuated form of a weapon of defence for the priest and his
assistant.
In some very traditional churches, such as the Cathedral and Abbey Church of
Saint Alban, the title is spelled VIRGER. In this last instance there are 4
virgers on the strength, a Virger, a Deputy Virger and two assistants. One
of them is on duty as long as the building is open (which it is seven days a
week during the hours of daylight virtually) and believe me, the whole place
would fall apart if it wasn't for their hard work and devotion to duty.
The word can become a verb, as in "to virge (verge)" when a cleric who is
for example preaching is ceremonially escorted to the pulpit by the vi/erger
who waits unobtrusively next to the pulpit to escord him back to his stall
(=seat). This ensures the precher gets to the pulpit on time and is not lost
on the way there or back. In the case of a visiting preacher, unfamiliar
with the local ceremonial, this can be a VITAL function.
In a ceremonious service, the good running of it in a seemly way depends
very largely on the discrete and skilful work of the ve/irger. They can
often be a fund of vital knowledge about the church and its history and its
gossip.....
Brenda M. Cook
"I care not if you bridge the seas,
Or ride secure the cruel sky,
Or build consummate palaces
Of metal or of masonry,
But have you wine and music still,
And statues and a bright-eyed love,
And foolish thoughts of good and ill,
And prayers to them who sit above ?
To a poet a thousand years hence.
James Elroy Flecker, 1884-1915.
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