noun a room or building attached to a church, used as an office or for meetings and classes
In historical contexts, a vestry was a committee within a parish church responsible for managing parish affairs and finances.
In architecture, a vestry can refer to a room in a church or cathedral where sacred vessels, vestments, and records are kept.
In legal contexts, a vestry can refer to a jury room or deliberation room where jurors discuss a case before reaching a verdict.
In a religious context, a vestry is a room in a church where clergy vestments are kept and where meetings and preparations for worship services take place.
In literature, a vestry may be mentioned in novels or poems as a setting for a scene or as a symbolic representation of a specific theme related to religion or tradition.
A psychologist may use the term 'vestry' in a therapeutic context when discussing a patient's religious or spiritual beliefs and practices.
An architect may refer to a vestry when designing a church or religious building, as it is a common feature in traditional church architecture.
Historians may study vestries as part of their research on religious institutions, social structures, or community organization in different time periods.