Posted                       

• Security - unlocking and locking the church daily, lending out keys and making sure they come back, and being around when the church is open to make sure the local druggies don't run off with the PA system, the contents of the fair trade stall or the assistant organist's handbag.
• Being in charge of heating plant, alarms, PA system.
• Humping chairs, tables, lecterns, nave altars, pianos, harpsichords, etc. about the place.
• Telling visiting television companies what they can and can't do with their cables, lights etc.
• Getting stuff out for services and putting it away afterwards (vestments, plate, books, wine, wafers).
• Looking after altar linen, frontals, crib figures, christmas tree decorations, easter garden paraphernalia, etc.
• Verging processions - that is, walking ahead holding the verge (the silver wand thing).
• Acting as a server, crucifer, thurifer or whatever.
• Lying quietly in bed at night listening for the sound of breaking stained glass.
• Antagonizing the organist and moaning about the vicar. .

Posted                       

I've found that at least here in the US, vergers tend to be found primarily at cathedrals. Back at St. John the Divine, the vergers were part-time volunteers who primarily led the processions during the liturgy. (The other duties mentioned above by Pulsator Organorum Ineptus are typically handled by paid staff, ushers, or the altar guild.)

What was interesting (IMO) is that we actually had three vergers in procession. Our typical processions on Sunday mornings were somthing like this:

[VERGER]

[BOAT] [THURIFUR]

[TORCH] [CHOIR CROSS] [TORCH]

[CHORISTERS]

[ADULT CHOIR]


[VERGER]

[TORCH] [CHAPTER CROSS] [TORCH]

[CHAPTER]


[VERGER]

[TORCH] [CELEBRANT CROSS] [TORCH]

[SUBDEACON]

[DEACON]

[CELEBRANT]

As you can imagine, it's an incredibly long procession, and looks like a slow-moving liturgical freight train coming down the nave.

Just out of curiousity, how does this compare with other cathedrals or large churches?

quote:

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Originally posted by Pulsator Organorum Ineptus:
Under no circumstances get on the wrong side of the Verger, no matter how strong the temptation.

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ETA: No argument there. At St. John the Divine, we were convinced that the Archbishop of Canterbury took his orders from the vergers. Acolytes who crossed the vergers had been known to disappear under mysterious circumstances.

[ 04. May 2005, 01:55: Message edited by: Living in Gin ]

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It's all fun and games until somebody gets burned at the stake.

Posted                    

quote:

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Originally posted by Living in Gin:
I've found that at least here in the US, vergers tend to be found primarily at cathedrals. Back at St. John the Divine, the vergers were part-time volunteers who primarily led the processions during the liturgy. (The other duties mentioned above by Pulsator Organorum Ineptus are typically handled by paid staff, ushers, or the altar guild.)

What was interesting (IMO) is that we actually had three vergers in procession. Our typical processions on Sunday mornings were somthing like this:

(details snipped to save space)

As you can imagine, it's an incredibly long procession, and looks like a slow-moving liturgical freight train coming down the nave.

Just out of curiousity, how does this compare with other cathedrals or large churches?

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Well, St. John the Divine has a lot of nave to process through!

It's been quite a while since I was at high mass at Grace SF, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were three vergers involved in the standard procession. I know the Dean or celebrant got his/her own verger (walking in after the choir and the chapter).

Grace doesn't do the multiple processional crosses (if I am recalling correctly, I usually only dipped once ) and only breaks out the thurible for High Holy Days. Unfortunately I have duties at my parish on Pentecost or I'd nip on over to refresh my memory.

As mentioned in another thread, at my parish, the crucifer doubles as verger most days and conducts the choir to their seats and those bearing offerings up to the altar. It is strictly ceremonial and other duties of the "traditonal" verger are divided up among the paid and volunteer staff.

(edited to take out processional details, as they could easily be read above)

Charlotte

[ 04. May 2005, 03:16: Message edited by: Amazing Grace ]

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.sig on vacation

Posted                       

quote:

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Originally posted by Pulsator Organorum Ineptus:
*snip*
A full time vergers' duties would include some or all of the following:-

• Security - unlocking and locking the church daily, lending out keys and making sure they come back, and being around when the church is open to make sure the local druggies don't run off with the PA system, the contents of the fair trade stall or the assistant organist's handbag.
• Being in charge of heating plant, alarms, PA system.
• Humping chairs, tables, lecterns, nave altars, pianos, harpsichords, etc. about the place.
• Telling visiting television companies what they can and can't do with their cables, lights etc.
• Getting stuff out for services and putting it away afterwards (vestments, plate, books, wine, wafers).
• Looking after altar linen, frontals, crib figures, christmas tree decorations, easter garden paraphernalia, etc.
• Verging processions - that is, walking ahead holding the verge (the silver wand thing).
• Acting as a server, crucifer, thurifer or whatever.
• Lying quietly in bed at night listening for the sound of breaking stained glass.
• Antagonizing the organist and moaning about the vicar. .

---

Posted                      

quote:

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Originally posted by Verger:
The best explanation I've heard is that the Verger is the Cathedral (in my case, or Church in others) Butler.

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Posted                          

quote:

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Originally posted by Pulsator Organorum Ineptus:
A full time vergers' duties would include some or all of the following:-

• Security - unlocking and locking the church daily, lending out keys and making sure they come back, and being around when the church is open to make sure the local druggies don't run off with the PA system, the contents of the fair trade stall or the assistant organist's handbag.
• Being in charge of heating plant, alarms, PA system.
• Humping chairs, tables, lecterns, nave altars, pianos, harpsichords, etc. about the place.
• Telling visiting television companies what they can and can't do with their cables, lights etc.
• Getting stuff out for services and putting it away afterwards (vestments, plate, books, wine, wafers).
• Looking after altar linen, frontals, crib figures, christmas tree decorations, easter garden paraphernalia, etc.
• Verging processions - that is, walking ahead holding the verge (the silver wand thing).
• Acting as a server, crucifer, thurifer or whatever.
• Lying quietly in bed at night listening for the sound of breaking stained glass.
• Antagonizing the organist and moaning about the vicar. .

---

Posted                       

quote:

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Originally posted by Philpott-Thrashington:
For an off-beat look at Verging, you could always read the musings of Ebenezer Grindle, head Verger at Wenchoster cathedral.
Currently to be found at: http://www.pharisaios.co.uk/86083.html

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Posted                       

quote:

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Originally posted by Wayward Crucifer:

quote:

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Originally posted by Philpott-Thrashington:
For an off-beat look at Verging, you could always read the musings of Ebenezer Grindle, head Verger at Wenchoster cathedral.
Currently to be found at: http://www.pharisaios.co.uk/86083.html

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Slightly alarmingly, (for me at any rate) that top picture (not Grindle, the one below his musings) is of an event in my church. GSS Easter Festival, by the look of things.

Wayward, Verger, the Church without a congregation

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Posted                      

quote:

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Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
Orthodox Christians will be transfigured by The Church of Rockall ! I got such a laugh out of that one!

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quote:

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Solemn Evensong (BCP) - Chapel of Blessed Jennifer Patterson
Officiant: The Sub Vice Dean
New Canticles: Blair in B Minor
Anthem: God is gone up - Frenzi
Preacher: The Archbishop of Betelgeuse
Voluntary: The Magic Roundabout - Fauré, arr. Groves

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--------------------
Ken

L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.

Posted                       

quote:

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Vergers are saints, especially because they get so joked about.

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And in churches where there are no vergers, Angloid, the priest mops the floors and mows the grass.... one I know of worked himself into an early grave that way.

Leetle M.

[ 07. June 2005, 20:18: Message edited by: Leetle Masha ]

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eleison me, tin amartolin: have mercy on me, the sinner

Posted                      

quote:

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Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
And in churches where there are no vergers, the priest mops the floors and mows the grass....

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Posted                      

quote:

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Originally posted by Leetle Masha:
He had no one to help him at all.

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