vestry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a room in or attached to a church where clergy put on vestments, sacred objects are kept, or meetings are held

   Miss Prism waited in the vestry while Canon Chasuble searched for her.

2. 2
   noun

   a committee or meeting of parishioners that administers the secular affairs of a church or parish, especially in Anglican and Episcopal churches

   The vestry voted to repair the church roof before winter.

From Anglo-Norman vesterie and Old French vestiaire ("room for vestments, dressing room"), from Latin vestiarium ("wardrobe"), itself from vestis ("clothing"). The governing-body sense arose because parish business was traditionally conducted in the church's vestry room.

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