The Church of England Guild of Vergers
The Virge
The Verger carries a long stick called a virge. Originally this would have been a mace and would have been carried by the Verger to protect the minister since he would not have been allowed to carry a weapon. The Mace was seen as a weapon of power and it became a symbol of strength and of authority. These maces developed into the Civic Maces that are carried by The Council Mace Bearer and the virge with a much smaller head developed into the virge, which is carried by the Verger. The virge usually has a cross at one end. The Virge is often a wooden stick about 4 ft long, often with a small cross at one end. Often the ends are made of the virge are made of metal. The one opposite has neither.
Peter explained that the dimensions of this virge is the same as the ones used by the Virgers at St Albans Abbey.