In addition to my role as Parish Deacon at St. Luke’s, Burlington, I am also a member of the Church of England Guild of Vergers (CEGV). I have the opportunity to be a verger at weddings that are held at St. Luke’s.
So, many may ask the question “What is a Verger?”
The verger’s roots lie deep in history and can be traced back through the medieval Church to the New Testament and beyond. The verger today is someone who is committed to serving the Lord through practical ministry in the church. They have primarily ceremonial duties as well as other responsibilities. The verger serves through a special, indeed unique, and time-honoured lay ministry.
The ancient office of Verger has its beginnings in the earliest days of the Christian Church. The vergers today often retain many of the duties their predecessors held. In the fourth and fifth centuries, they came under the heading of “inferior officers of the church.” Two of the forerunners were that of housekeeper and doorkeeper. Terms like sexton, bedel, parish constable, and sacristan have all contributed tasks to the duties conducted by the modern-day verger.
Psalm 84 is known as the Verger’s Psalm. Verses 1 and 10 “O how lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, God of Hosts …” “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of the unrighteousness.” The verger holds one of the oldest established offices within the church. Vergers were found in temples of the Old Testament days as well as in the great churches and cathedrals of medieval times just as they are in the many different worship centres today.
The verger gets their title from the virge—also known as the rod, staff, mace, or wand which he or she carries in procession before a dignitary of a cathedral or parish church. The verger made a way through the standing congregation of the medieval church. Some examples of early virges still survive—from the wedding of Mary Tudor in 1554 still in use at Winchester Cathedral or the coronation of Elizabeth I in 1559 at Carlisle Cathedral.
In August of 2024, I had the privilege to attend the guild’s training conference and retreat held at the beautiful Elim Conference Centre nestled in the Malvern Hills in England. The theme of this year’s conference was The Ministry of Welcome. This ministry is something that many parishes have strived to attain in their parishes. The verger is often the first person that newcomers see when they come into our churches; thus, the ministry of welcome often rests on the verger’s shoulders.
What are the constituents of a Ministry of Welcome? We make it clear that all are indeed welcome. The welcoming atmosphere may be created by a warm, well-lit church with essential information about the parish or upcoming service on display and easily accessible. If no vergers are present, then most churches will have a team of greeters. An agreed strategy for welcoming visitors is helpful—sometimes different approaches can confuse newcomers or visitors. For example, if a visitor arrives while a service is in progress then the verger has the responsibility to give a welcome and to inform the visitor of the options—join in with the activity, or sit at the rear for a while to observe and then join in. To force visitors to participate may be the best way to turn them off or away with no hope of return. It is a real turn-off to say, “There is a service in progress” and do not explain options. Likewise, to force them to participate is not good either. They may wish to observe until they feel more comfortable.
The Ministry of Welcome can be quite complex. It involves boundaries and it also makes us look at ways to make our churches safe for all. The Inclusive Church Network in the UK tells us that there are barriers in society that keep people out and we all need to address this.
In an inclusive church, there are sights, speech, and services to welcome people in. Signs that people might look for; are there ear defenders for those who have trouble with noise? Are there fidget toys for those who find sitting still an issue? Is there an opportunity or safe place for those who need to do something while listening to the liturgy: for example, knitting, etc.? Do they know where the washroom is? These are all things to look at and to provide the invitation to break down barriers. Do we welcome new people to sing, or say the liturgy? This might be a challenge as we see so many people where English may not be their first language. We need to allow people to see themselves in how we talk to God. Are we gender inclusive? Do we refer to those in our pews as our “siblings”?
In our service, we must concentrate on the inclusion of welcome because everyone has something to offer. Can we invite people to do one of the readings in their own language? Does it matter what colour their shoes are? After all, Jesus wore sandals! We need to encourage them to be part of the service as they are.
There are so many questions around the Ministry of Welcome. However, this ministry needs to be proactive and intentional so that “no one is left standing” Welcome and hospitality should mirror Jesus’ way with us. Rowan Williams once said, “Christ is not a dead friend but a living stranger.”
Welcome to God, the stranger.
Rev. Deacon Sheila Plant
St. Luke’s, Burlington.
The Face of the Verger and the Ministry of Welcome
In addition to my role as Parish Deacon at St. Luke’s, Burlington, I am also a member of the Church of England Guild of Vergers (CEGV). I have the opportunity to be a verger at weddings that are held at St. Luke’s.
So, many may ask the question “What is a Verger?”
The verger’s roots lie deep in history and can be traced back through the medieval Church to the New Testament and beyond. The verger today is someone who is committed to serving the Lord through practical ministry in the church. They have primarily ceremonial duties as well as other responsibilities. The verger serves through a special, indeed unique, and time-honoured lay ministry.
The ancient office of Verger has its beginnings in the earliest days of the Christian Church. The vergers today often retain many of the duties their predecessors held. In the fourth and fifth centuries, they came under the heading of “inferior officers of the church.” Two of the forerunners were that of housekeeper and doorkeeper. Terms like sexton, bedel, parish constable, and sacristan have all contributed tasks to the duties conducted by the modern-day verger.
Psalm 84 is known as the Verger’s Psalm. Verses 1 and 10 “O how lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, God of Hosts …” “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of the unrighteousness.” The verger holds one of the oldest established offices within the church. Vergers were found in temples of the Old Testament days as well as in the great churches and cathedrals of medieval times just as they are in the many different worship centres today.
The verger gets their title from the virge—also known as the rod, staff, mace, or wand which he or she carries in procession before a dignitary of a cathedral or parish church. The verger made a way through the standing congregation of the medieval church. Some examples of early virges still survive—from the wedding of Mary Tudor in 1554 still in use at Winchester Cathedral or the coronation of Elizabeth I in 1559 at Carlisle Cathedral.
In August of 2024, I had the privilege to attend the guild’s training conference and retreat held at the beautiful Elim Conference Centre nestled in the Malvern Hills in England. The theme of this year’s conference was The Ministry of Welcome. This ministry is something that many parishes have strived to attain in their parishes. The verger is often the first person that newcomers see when they come into our churches; thus, the ministry of welcome often rests on the verger’s shoulders.
What are the constituents of a Ministry of Welcome? We make it clear that all are indeed welcome. The welcoming atmosphere may be created by a warm, well-lit church with essential information about the parish or upcoming service on display and easily accessible. If no vergers are present, then most churches will have a team of greeters. An agreed strategy for welcoming visitors is helpful—sometimes different approaches can confuse newcomers or visitors. For example, if a visitor arrives while a service is in progress then the verger has the responsibility to give a welcome and to inform the visitor of the options—join in with the activity, or sit at the rear for a while to observe and then join in. To force visitors to participate may be the best way to turn them off or away with no hope of return. It is a real turn-off to say, “There is a service in progress” and do not explain options. Likewise, to force them to participate is not good either. They may wish to observe until they feel more comfortable.
The Ministry of Welcome can be quite complex. It involves boundaries and it also makes us look at ways to make our churches safe for all. The Inclusive Church Network in the UK tells us that there are barriers in society that keep people out and we all need to address this.
In an inclusive church, there are sights, speech, and services to welcome people in. Signs that people might look for; are there ear defenders for those who have trouble with noise? Are there fidget toys for those who find sitting still an issue? Is there an opportunity or safe place for those who need to do something while listening to the liturgy: for example, knitting, etc.? Do they know where the washroom is? These are all things to look at and to provide the invitation to break down barriers. Do we welcome new people to sing, or say the liturgy? This might be a challenge as we see so many people where English may not be their first language. We need to allow people to see themselves in how we talk to God. Are we gender inclusive? Do we refer to those in our pews as our “siblings”?
In our service, we must concentrate on the inclusion of welcome because everyone has something to offer. Can we invite people to do one of the readings in their own language? Does it matter what colour their shoes are? After all, Jesus wore sandals! We need to encourage them to be part of the service as they are.
There are so many questions around the Ministry of Welcome. However, this ministry needs to be proactive and intentional so that “no one is left standing” Welcome and hospitality should mirror Jesus’ way with us. Rowan Williams once said, “Christ is not a dead friend but a living stranger.”
Welcome to God, the stranger.
Rev. Deacon Sheila Plant
St. Luke’s, Burlington.
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