VESTRY, in English parishes, is a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish assembled to deliberate on some matter which they have a right to decide (see PARISH). The ves try is the regular organ through which the parish speaks; and in numerous matters relating to church-rates, highways, baths, and wash-houses, and other sanitary matters, i it has important functions to discharge, and is a conspicuous feature of parochial man agement. A statute was passed in 1818 to regulate the mode of procedure. No vestry, or meeting of inhabitants in vestry, shall be held until public notice of the place and hour of meeting be given, as well as of the special purpose of such meeting. This notice is required to be given by publishing it on some Sunday before the celebration of divine service, by affixing a written or printed copy on the principal door of the parish church or chapel. Such notice is to be previously signed by a church-warden of the church or chapel, or by the aecttor. vicar. or curate of the parish. These meetings were formed held in the vestry-room of the church, hence the name given to the meeting itself. In large parishes the vestry-room of the church was found too small; and wherever the population exceeds 2,000 the vestry may apply to the poor-law board to have some room, or other place of meeting than the church, built or hired for the purpose of the vestry-meetings. The minister of the parish—that is to say, the rector, vicar, or per petual curate—if he be present, is entitled to be the chairman; but if he be not present, then the meeting may nominate one of the inhabitauts to be chairman. The chairman has the power of adjourning the meeting, but he must exercise such power prudently, and so as to facilitate the business. None but persons rated to the relief of the poor can in a vestry; and though formerly none could vote unless actually residing in the parish, this is no longer necessary, provided the person is rated to the poor of the parish.
The number of votes depends on the rental or value of the occupation, one vote being allowed for each L'25 of value, or rental, provided that no person shall have more than six votes. In case of joint-occupiers, each votes according to his own share of the joint value. One of the incidents of holding a vestry is that any vestryman, after a show of hands is taken, may demand a poll, and if the poll be refused, the resolution come to is void. The law has surrounded this parochial light to a poll with jealous care/and if there is not fair play given, and ample notice and time for all the inhabitants entitled to vote to come and give their vote, the whole proceedings are void. It is the duty of the church-wardens and overseers to keep a book in which to enter the minutes of the vestry. The vestry appointsannually church-wardens and highway surveyors. While church rates were compulsory, a church rate could only be made by a vestry; and the majority choose to make none, then no rate was possible. The vestry also deliberates and resolves as to stopping up, diverting, or turning highways; whether the owners of small tenements ought to be excused from paying poor rates; whether baths and wash houses, parish libraries, etc., shall be adopted. In large parishes a vestry-clerk is usually appointed, and paid out of the poor-rate; and in such case he is appointed by the vestry. His duty is to give notices of all vestry-meetings; to summon the church-wardens and overseers; to keep the minutes, accounts, and vestry-books; to make out the church-rate; recover arrears of rates; make out lists of persons qualified to act as jurymen, and to give notices for claims to vote for members of parliament. Some parishes are governed by a select vestry, which means a small part of the chief inhabitants appointed by justices of the peace under a statute, and their duty consists of relieving the poor, and they super sede the common vestry of the parish.