Oct 04 2007
Mike’s Installation as Verger
On September 23rd, Mike was installed as the first Verger for the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska and St. Peter's By-the-Sea. Below are some photos from the event. You can see more photos, including a picture of me walking behind Mike as I got to be Lay Reader that morning, if you follow this link:
Read the excerpt below that was published in the church newsletter to learn more about Vergers and Mike's duties.
Dear friends
The word “Verger” has been heard often around St. Peters for the last few weeks, so I thought I would try to answer a few questions. Most of the following information is from the Episcopal Vergers Guild, of which I am a member.
So What Is a Verger Anyway?
A verger is a committed lay minister within the Church who assists the clergy in the conduct of public worship, especially in the marshalling of processions. Vergers can be full-time or part-time, paid or volunteer. Their duties can be purely ceremonial or include other responsibilities, such as preparing the Sanctuary for services, opening and closing graves, and other duties as assigned by the Rector.
A brief history of Vergers
The office of verger has its roots in the earliest days of the Church's history. It shares certain similarities with the former minor orders of porter and acolyte. Generally speaking, vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of the house of worship, including preparations for the liturgy, the conduct of the laity, and grave-digging. Although there is no definitive historical survey of the office of verger, evidence from Rochester, Lincoln, Exeter, and Salisbury Cathedrals indicates the existence of vergers as far back as the 16th century. A familiar sight in English cathedrals, vergers have maintained the buildings and furnishings of the Church for many centuries.
Concerning Vestments and Virges
Verger paraphernalia can be as varied as the duties of the incumbent. The basic vestment of a verger is a black cassock. Over the cassock, when performing a ceremonial function, the verger wears a gown, which resembles a bishop's chimere. The virge is the staff that a verger carries in procession. The name comes from the Latin "virga" which simply means a rod or staff; hence, a verger is one who carries a staff. The virge can trace its history back to the ceremonial maces carried before civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries. Originally a weapon used to clear the way for processions (and control unruly choristers!); its use is now principally honorific.
Vergers Today
The contemporary office of verger is experiencing a rapid expansion within the Episcopal Church. Differing from the Church of England, where vergers are often full-time paid employees of the Church, American vergers are more often than not volunteers with a special calling to the ordering and conduct of the Church's liturgy. Clergy throughout the Church have come to appreciate the ministry of vergers within their congregations. Vergers can relieve the clergy of the burden of liturgical detail so that they can concentrate on their priestly duties to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments. No longer found primarily in cathedrals and large parishes, vergers are as asset to any worshiping community. It is said there is a verger in every congregation -- whether one has been identified as such or not
My duties at St Peters will for the most part consist of the things I have been doing for the last few years. In addition I will be opening and closing graves in the memorial garden, and assisting the clergy in organizing, and assembling processions on special occasions such as ordinations, the Bishops visits, Easter and Advent events, weddings, funerals and others at the pleasure of the Rector. I will also be in the procession at the 11:00 AM service several times each month.
I look forward to serving you, and to developing this ministry as a permanent part of St Peters and the Diocese of Alaska. Please feel free to ask questions and I welcome suggestions.
Mike McConnell
Verger
