noun a person who takes care of a church and churchyard, typically acting as a gravedigger and bell-ringer
The term 'sexton' may be used in literature to describe a character fulfilling the role of a church caretaker or gravedigger.
A sexton is a church officer or employee responsible for the maintenance of church property and often for ringing the church bells.
In historical settings, a sexton may have had additional duties such as digging graves and assisting with funerals.
In some contexts, a sexton may also be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of a cemetery.
In literature, a sexton may be portrayed as a caretaker of a church or cemetery, responsible for maintenance and upkeep.
In some cases, the term sexton may be used metaphorically to describe someone who is responsible for maintaining order or cleanliness in a particular setting.
Historians may refer to a sexton in the context of researching historical records related to church or cemetery maintenance.
In religious studies, a sexton may be studied in terms of their role within a religious community and their duties related to the church or cemetery.