— vestral , adj.
/ves"tree/ , n. , pl. vestries .
1. a room in or a building attached to a church, in which the vestments, and sometimes liturgical objects, are kept; sacristy.
2. (in some churches) a room in or a building attached to a church, used as a chapel, for prayer meetings, for the Sunday school, etc.
3. Episc. Ch. a committee elected by members of a congregation to serve with the churchwardens in managing the temporal affairs of the church.
4. Ch. of Eng. a meeting attended by all the parishioners or by a committee of parishioners during which the official business of the church is discussed.
[ 1350-1400; ME vestrie, vestrye. See VEST (v.), -ERY ]