VESTRY (OF., Fr. restiairc, from Lat. res tiariam, wardrobe, nen. sg. of restiarius. relating to clothing, from restis, clothing; connected with Gk. IcrOhs, esthes, clothing. ivv6vat, henny nai, Skt. yes, to clothe, Cloth. wasti, clothing, wasjan, AS. secrian. Eng. /rear). The repre sentative and administrative body in parishes of the Church of England and of the Episcopal Church in the United States. In England vestries are either general or common, i.e. composed of all the parishioners who are ratepayers, or select, i.e. composed of certain select parish ioners. the number being fixed by custom or statute. Anciently all the affairs of a parish, as such, whether ecclesiastical or civil, were regu lated in vestry. At the present time. however, the only duties of an which a vestry has to perform are the election of a church warden (q.v.), the levying of ehureh rates, and the reception of the accounts of church trustees. A vestry cannot interfere (except by observation and complaint) with the manner in which the services in the church are eondueted. Although the minister is the proper bead of the vestry, and, if present. is entitled to preside at all meetings, he is not an essential part of it.
The vestry in American parishes is a much mare highly developed body with wider powers.
The number of vestrymen is fixed by the statute law of each State. They, together with two wardens, are elected by the members of the eon g.tregation at the annual parish meet hug to serve for one year. The rector is cx officio a member of the vestry. and is entitled to preside, if present, at all its meetings. The function of the vestry is to represent the congregation in law, to hare charge and care of its property, and to collect and disburse its revenues. The vestry, acting for the parishioners, and under the jurisdiction of the bishop of the diocese, choose and call a min ister to be rector of the parish and make pro vision for his support. In the absence of the rector they are bound to see that no person ministers to the congregation without sufficient evidence that he is duly qualified to do so. if the rector prove unworthy or incompetent, they, in the interests of the parishioners, make com plaint to the bishop of the diocese. lit some dioceses the vestry, instead of the body of parish ioners, elect the lay deputies to represent the parish in the convention or council of the diocese.