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September 6th, 2011

Cartoon: In the vestry

vestry cartoon

A new cartoon has been posted on the main CartoonChurch site – click this link for the larger version: In the vestry. Information on republishing can also be found via that page.

The cartoon is all to do with the things that happen in vestries before the service starts. I have not been allowed in a vestry before a service starts for years, so I really have very little idea what goes on. I have heard rumours that some churches even employ heavily disguised security staff specifically to keep me out. This diagram is therefore based entirely on second hand information and heresy hearsay. If anyone can enlighten me, about this, or indeed about anything, then please feel free to do so.

Some more cartoons will be posted in the next few days as it has been a while. I am also determined to turn over a bit of a blogging leaf from this point onwards. More about that another time.

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7 Responses to “Cartoon: In the vestry”


  1. Liz from the sewing room says:

    Our vestry is nothing like this before the start of the service! There is the preacher, the worship leader, the person who will be in the prayer corner after the service, and the stewards, we make sure that whoever is doing the intercessions can read the writing in the book, and then a steward says a prayer and off we all go, at more of a wander than a procession!

    September 7th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
  2. David Uden says:

    The elderly choirman handing round his ‘Fisherman’s Friend’ (original, extra strong) throat lozenges has obviously just popped out for a glass of water.

    September 7th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
  3. Alison says:

    In our vestry there are also people putting the after service coffee into cups, turning on the hot water boiler and sorting out the biscuits (obviously the most important job), as in our country church we do not have a separate kitchen or a church hall. As we are a small church, their are far fewer people milling about – usually just 2 churchwardens and the vicar or reader.
    I particularly liked the verger preparing the verge and the premature turning on of the radio mic is spot on and has happened to us on more than one occasion!

    September 7th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
  4. Catherine says:

    It is just possible that I may, once or twice*, have been spotted making last minute amendments to the sermon in the vestry at 10.28.

    It is also just possible that I may, once or twice*, have been given an already-turned-on radio mic in the vestry 15 minutes before the service, and been told I can leave it like that because that mic is muted – and immediately turned it off anyway because I’m not willing to trust that it’ll stay muted.

    On the other hand, it would appear that I am very fortunate to be in a non-conformist church without choir or any procession makes things a lot simpler…

    *frequently

    September 7th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
  5. chris clark says:

    I am just about to go from a church where they don’t process (too Roman) to one where they do so this is a very handy training guide.

    I have a few questions. what is an Acolyte, a Thurifer, Chorister, Verger? :-)

    September 8th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
  6. Sue, Reader in Birm Diocese says:

    Dave, We all know that the church of England moves in slow and mysterious way – so don’t worry that you have not visited a vestry for years – the likeness to ours is uncanny.

    September 13th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
  7. David Keen says:

    We printed off a copy of this for our Verger, she loved it.

    September 14th, 2011 at 10:28 am