The Church of England Guild of Vergers
Verger or Virger
The Virgers Attire
Basic vestment for a Virger is a black cassock. When performing ceremonial functions, the Virger wears a gown over the cassock. This gown is sleeveless, resembling a bishop’s chimere and is often in black with black velvet. A fully cut and trimmed Virger’s Gown has lappets hanging from the shoulders and the arms.
The Role of the Virger
The Virgers role seems to be different in each church or cathedral, but some of the main responsibilities are for changing altar frontals and dusting and cleaning the church. The Virger also has the custody of the keys, supervises the cleaning, sorts out the lighting, turns on the heating and arranges or carries out minor repairs to the church.
The lower lappets were used to tie books of the Clergy being that were escorted, allowing the Virger’s hands to be free to hold and swing the virge. Early canon law provided that the sacred vessels were to be handled only by the Clergy, so the Virger would wrap the lappets around his hands to carry the vessel, much the same way some acolytes use gloves today. The Virgers gown was intended as protection from inclement weather, but now the Virger’s gown today is more of a symbol.
Virgers also appear in leading the academic processions of some of the old uiniversities such as Oxford, Cambridge and in America, Yale University. This is because these institutions were originally founded by the church and they have a lot of tradition.
The office of Virger exists in The Church of England and in the Episcopal church of America. Virgers are not usually found in the Roman Catholic Church.
In some churches the Virgers regalia also includes a hat, sometimes known as a bonnett.
Since the 16th century the Virger has had many different titles which makes the history of the Virger hard to follow. These various titles and their duties could include Parish Clerk, Business Manger, Doorkeeper, Acolyte, Layreader, Chalice Bearer, Sexton, Janitor, and Grave-digger, for example. The best general description of a Virger is a lay assistant to the Clergy.
I did my Work Experience at The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban in July 2008. I spent a week working in the Abbey doing all types of jobs from cleaning to helping with the services. I enjoyed myself, but I wouldn't like to do this full time.