verger

plural vergers · alternative virger

1. One who carries a verge, or emblem of office.
2. IrelandUKChristianityA lay person who takes care of the interior of a church and acts as an attendant during services, where he or she carries the verge (or virge). In the United States, the office is generally combined with that of sexton.

   As soon as we were all in the night the verger rolled shut the doors and blotted out the chandeliers.

   1942, Emily Carr, “The Blessing”, in The Book of Small, Toronto, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC

   1 more example

   "We have often seen each other," said Little Dorrit, recognising the sexton, or the beadle, or the verger, or whatever he was, "when I have been at church here."

   1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, “Litle Dorrit’s Party”, in Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC, 1st book (Poverty), page 128

3. CommonwealthIrelandUKChristianityAn usher; also, in major ecclesiastical landmarks, a tour guide.
4. CommonwealthIrelandUKAn attendant upon a dignitary, such as a bishop or dean, a justice, etc.

   When she came to her place she opened the book, and perused it, and saw the pictures, but frowned and blushed; and then shut it, (of which several took notice,) and calling the verger, bade him bring her the old book, wherein she was formerly wont to read.

   1725, John Strype, Annals of the Reformation and Establishment of Religion, and Other Various Occurrences in the Church of England, during Queen Elizabeth’s Happy Reign, Oxford: Clarendon, published 1824, Vol. I, Part I, Chapter 23, p. 408