Last updated: 04/11/2006
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Vergers
The
vergers of a church are the people who take care of the interior of a church and
act as an attendant during ceremonies. This means that they lay out all the
vestments and equipment that the vicar would use. For example, they will prepare
the Ciborium, the Burse, the Chalice and the Paten. These are the containers
that contain the wafers used at communion.
|
Term |
Meaning |
|
Burse |
A
flat cloth case for carrying the corporal, which is used when
celebrating the Eucharist. |
|
Chalice |
The
large cup used for carrying the consecrated wine. |
|
Ciborium |
A
covered receptacle for holding the consecrated wafers of the Eucharist. |
|
Corporal |
A
white linen cloth on which the consecrated elements are placed during
the celebration of the Eucharist. |
|
Pall |
A
linen cloth, or a square of cardboard faced with cloth, used to cover
the chalice. It protects the chalice from dust that would fall into it. |
|
Paten |
A
plate, usually of gold or silver, which is used to hold the host (the
large bread) during the Eucharist. |
|
Purificator |
A
cloth used to clean the chalice after the celebration of the Eucharist. |
|
Veil |
The
length of cloth used to cover the chalice and ornamenta during the
Eucharist. |
All
the cloths will have specific colours, except the purificator. The colours are
as follows:
|
Time
of year |
Colour |
|
Advent
|
Purple
|
|
Christmas
Day |
Gold
or White |
|
Christmas
– Epiphany |
White
|
|
Candlemass |
Gold
or White |
|
From
Candlemass until Lent |
Green |
|
Ash
Wednesday – Palm Sunday |
Purple |
|
Palm
Sunday – Wednesday of Holy Week |
Red |
|
Maundy
Thursday |
White |
|
Good
Friday |
Hangings
removed |
|
Easter
Saturday – Easter Day |
Gold
or White |
|
Easter |
White |
|
Pentecost |
Red |
|
Ordinary
Time |
Green |
|
Trinity
Sunday |
Gold
or White |
|
|
White |
|
Trinity
|
Green |
|
Church’s
personal saints day (in this case, St. Michael and All Angels) |
White |
|
Saints’
Days |
White
or Red |
|
All
Saints Day |
Gold
or White |
|
Four
weeks before Advent |
Red
or Green |
The vergers also play a part in the services out of the usual routine, for example, weddings, funerals, and baptisms. They move used items, such as the wedding kneeler, or they lead the bride, for example, up the isle if it is wished.
May
- Head Verger