The Vergers

Active Vergers serving at St. Paul's Cathedral

Brooks Mason, Canon Verger Shawn Anderson Cherie Dean Bill Eadie Almira Fort Steve Haight Chris Harris Brad Lovelace Don Mitchell Stephanie Pierce

L to R - Shawn, Almira, Chris, Brooks, Cherie, Don

Inactive Vergers of St. Paul's Cathedral

• Naomi Schuettge, Retired

Past Head Vergers (From most recent)

• David Hare
• Albert Lander
• Steven Schaber

Past Vergers

• Frank Palms
• Allisyn Thomas
• Martha Bywater
• Marilyn Hackim

In memoriam

• Frank Palms
• Albert Lander
• Marilyn Hackim
• Steven Schaber

Of the Vergers mentioned above, all except Mr. Mason, the Canon Verger, are volunteers. The Vergers are called to this ministry after years of service at the Cathedral. Knowledge of liturgy and the ability to work well with and lead other volunteers is necessary.

A verger is a committed lay minister within the Church who assists the clergy in the conduct of public worship, especially in the marshalling of processions. Vergers can be full-time or part-time, paid or volunteer. Their duties can be purely ceremonial or include other responsibilities, such as parish administration, leadership of the worship committee or sexton.

A brief history of Vergers

The office of verger has its roots in the earliest days of the Church's history. It shares certain similarities with the former minor orders of porter and acolyte. Generally speaking, vergers were responsible for the order and upkeep of the house of worship, including preparations for the liturgy, the conduct of the laity, and grave-digging. Although there is no definitive historical survey of the office of verger, evidence from Rochester, Lincoln, Exeter, and Salisbury Cathedrals indicates the existence of vergers as far back as the twelfth century. A familiar sight in English cathedrals, vergers have maintained the buildings and furnishings of the Church for many centuries. The Church of England Guild of Vergers (CEGV) was formed in 1932 as a fellowship of vergers within the Anglican Communion. (Source - The Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church).