VESTRY

(Lat. vestiarium.) The robing room attached to a church; and from hence applied to designate a meeting of parishioners for parochial purposes, the bishop and priests having in former times used these rooms when they met to consult together on similar affairs. A gena-al vestry is one to which every parishioner or out dweller a e ed to or paying the church rates, or scot and lot, is admi ible of common right. The minister, whether rector, vicar, or perpetual curate, is ex officio chairman of the meeting. The powers of the vestry extend to investigate and restrain the expenditure of parish funds; to determine on repairs, enlargements, ornaments, . of the church; and to elect certain parish officers. Select vestries existed by custom in many large and populous parishes, especially in and round the metropolis. Originally these consisted of a number of householders annually elected by the rate-payers. But, by usage of long standing, these bodies were in many instances self-elected; i. e. the members of the vestry tilled up by their own choice any vacancy occasioned by death or resignation. Power has been given to parishes in which select vestries did not exist by custom to appoint such vestrie* [s. 1305]