Vestry

In England. A parochial assembly. In the United States. A body ol men, chosen by the parish of an Episcopal church, to have the care and management, in conjunction with the wardens, of the church's temporal affairs. Webster.

The place in a church where the priest’s vestments are kept. Also an assembly of the minister, church wardens, and parishioners, held in the vestry of the church. There was formerly no separate body known as a vestry, except in a few parishes, especially in the city of London, where there existed by custom a representative body called a “Select Vestry.” White, Church Law 306. In America, from an early date, a body elected by a church congregation to adminis ter the affairs of the church. They were provided for in New York by the Duke of York’s laws of 1664; and in Maryland by an act of 1692. They can act only when assembled; People’s Bank v. Roman Catholic Church, 109 N. Y. 512, 17 N. E. 408; United Brethren Church v. Vanduson, 37 Wis. 54; they may preserve order; Beckett v. Lawrence, 7 Abb. Prac. N. S. (N. Y.) 403.

In ecclesiastical law. The place in a church where the priest's vestures are deposited. Also an assembly of the min-istor, church-wardens, and parishioners, usually held in the vestry of the church or in a building called a "vestry-hall," to act upon business of the church. Mozley & Whitley.

— Vestry cess. A rate levied in Ireland for parochial purposes, abolished by St. 27 Vict c. 17.

— Vestry-clerk. An officer appointed to attend vestries, and take an account of their proceedings, etc.
—'Vestry-men. A select number of parishioners elected in large and populous parishes to take care of the concerns of the parish; so calied because they used ordinarily to meet in the vestry of the church. Cowell.

The place in a church where the priest's vestures are deposited. Also, an assembly of the minister, churchwardens, and parishioners, usually held in the vestry of the church, or in a building called a vestry-hall, to act upon business of the church. Mozley & W. Vestry clerk. The duties of the vestry clerk, under modern English law, are: to give notice of and attend the meetings of the vestry and committees appointed thereat; to summon and attend meetings of the church-wardens and overseers when required, and to enter the minutes thereof respectively; to keep accounts of all charity moneys which the church-wardens or overseers are authorized or accustomed to distribute; to keep the vestry books and the parish deeds and documents; to assist the overseers in making out their accounts; to make out the list of persons liable to serve on juries; to give notices for claims to vote for members of parliament, and to make out lists of voters; and to advise the church-wardens and overseers in all the duties of their office. Mozley & W. Vestrymen. A select number of parishioners elected in large and populous parishes to take care of the concerns of the parish, — so called because they used ordinarily to meet in the vestry of the church. Cowel.