At many of the worship services at the Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew, when the procession begins, you will see a person carrying a rod processing in front of the cross and torches. This is a verger, which is a non-clergy lay ministry, and is one of the oldest ministries in the Anglican Communion.

For the most part, you might only see the verger lead the procession to the altar, and lead the procession out of the church at the end. While this ministry may seem ceremonial, it derives like many traditions from necessity.

Many people each year attend medieval festivals. Can you imagine our church’s procession marching through that? Imagine a thurifer - the person swinging the bowl of coals and incense – trying to walk through a crowded street in the Middle Ages. It would be nearly impossible. The medieval verger had the job of clearing the way for the procession. That is why you see to this day at some churches a verger holding a rod, called a virge, much like a police officer might carry a night stick through a rowdy street. The virge can be shaped like a mace, a spear, or a club, though its use today is (usually) ceremonial. The verger is not the beginning of a religious procession. The verger is an escort to the procession.

The use of a ceremonial escort during a procession dates back to Ancient Rome, and can be found recorded in history throughout the centuries to present day in many countries influenced by Rome. Some of the first records of vergers in the Anglican Communion date back to 12th century England at Salisbury Cathedral. In ancient times, vergers escorted clergy from their homes through dangerous roads to the parishes, where the vergers then undertook many other duties to maintain their churches and help clergy prepare for worship. Although the virge (the staff with brass ball at the end) is seldom used as a weapon today, much of the remaining work of the verger is unchanged throughout these centuries of history of our Episcopal Church.

Besides walking up and down the aisle of the church, there is considerable work for a verger before and after the service. Their duties vary from church to church depending upon the needs and desires of the rector and the abilities of those who volunteer to serve. In general, however, a verger often is responsible for:

• Overseeing the preparations before a worship service. Is a verger too good to do the work? Absolutely not. But the verger is an additional person who can walk through the nave and make sure everything is ready, and jump in to help when needed. As such, a verger must train 1 as an acolyte and train with altar guild long before becoming a verger. He or she should be familiar with the liturgy and the desires of the clergy. This can be challenging at the cathedral where there are many priests and deacons, and services in English and Spanish, as well as weddings, baptisms, funerals, confirmations, ordinations, and diocesan events (including the diocesan convention).

• Assisting during worship services. A cathedral verger will be on the altar for most of the worship service. Should a priest need anything, this verger can leave the altar and get it. At large services, a second verger will be in the nave. Should a visitor need anything, this verger can help.

• Helping at the end of worship services.Vergers help return vestments and vessels to their proper places, and help prepare the nave for the next service.

Much of the verger’s work goes unnoticed, but the reward comes from the honor of being able to serve our church behind the scenes and at the altar so that all of us may enjoy a worship service that is beautiful and appropriate for our Glorious God. For more information on this lay ministry, please contact us at vergers@episcopalcathedral.org or by telephoning the cathedral business office and asking to speak to a verger. 

The Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew has generously sponsored this ministry since it was introduced to the diocese in 1994 at the request of Bishop Stanton. Today, the Vergers Guild has about twelve vergers serve the cathedral on a regular basis, and an additional three vergers serve on special occasions. Vergers serve at the regular 8 o’clock and 10:30 services, special occasions, diocesan events, and as needed at the 12:30 service conducted in Spanish. Several of our vergers are also members of the Vergers Guild of the Diocese of Dallas, the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church (the national guild), and associate members of the Church of England’s Guild of Vergers.

1 The Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church (a national group) offers a comprehensive training course. Those who complete the course receive a personalized virge and diploma. The majority of the vergers at the cathedral have successfully completed this training.