Verger’s seek to enhance people’s enjoyment of our churches and cathedrals, to help them appreciate the beauty and significance of the church buildings and their place in history, as well as to share with them the truth of the Church’s teaching.
The verger is in the front line of all activities within the church. He is, more often than not, the first or only representative of the church a passing visitor might see; therefore it is important that he be sympathetic to a positive ministry of welcome. After all, on never gets a second chance to make a first impression.
At best, a ministry of welcome includes a team of people ready at any given time (during open hours) to assist the visitor, tourist or pilgrim; or a verger ready to give a word of welcome or lend a listening ear, wiling to take time to stop and assist; or even a well-lit warm church with plenty of up-to-date information to hand about the church, its ministry and its activities.
At worst, the visitor is met by a cold dark building with out-of-date notices; or a locked church with a note pinned to the door indicating the whereabouts of the keyholder; or a church official busy going about his business without a though for those who might be on the fringe wanting, or indeed needing, to be noticed and helped; or someone ready to pounce and monopolise the visitors’ time, all the while encouraging them towards the offering box.
A visit to a church should be an experience, perhaps a life-changing experience. An old church building is a tangible reminder of the continuity of Christianity, recalling our roots. Visitors may well be either attracted or repelled by what the find. Let the very stones welcome the visitor as much as they can – they have a quiet calm ministry that is as important as any personal approach.
The Church has a ministry to everyone. It makes contact with the regular parishioners with relative ease, but as an extension of its ministry, needs to be aware of others who may use the building for whatever reason; visitor, tourist, pilgrim, tradesman, the Church has a ministry to them all. One of its aims should be to turn all visitors into pilgrims.
People want or expect to find a church open. Whether they come looking for a house of prayer, a work of art or even a sanctuary from a storm, some sort of welcome is required; having a verger present in the building can only be a benefit to both church and visitor. A locked church, even with a notice indicating the whereabouts of the key, presents a negative image. A church that is open, warm and manned, presents an image of care that speaks of the living faith it represents. This is a form of evangelism that should not be overlooked or underestimated, since the church itself can touch people in a unique way.
What are the constituents of a ministry of welcome? First it should be clear that all are indeed welcome. This welcoming atmosphere may be created, as mentioned earlier, by a warm, well-lit church with clear, well-written leaflets, and a notice boards which are tidy, not dog-eared, and only display relevant up-to-date information; our-of-date notices suggest an out-of-date message. Posters need to be arresting and eye-catching. Personnel play a large part and really there can be no substitute for a physical presence in the church. The verger and his team should always be ready to talk and to listen and should look tidy, whether in work clothes or ceremonial dress.
An agreed strategy for welcoming visitors is helpful – differing approaches can confuse and annoy the public. For instance, if a visitor arrives while a service is in progress then the verger has a responsibility to give a welcome and to inform the visitor of the options, whether to join in with the activity, sit at the rear for a while and observe or to come back at a later time. To force visitors to participate may be the best way to turn them away, with no hope of return. Likewise, to say at the outset ‘There is a service on’ and offer no options or explanation may turn the casual visitor into a rejected pilgrim.
Important as a ministry of welcome is a simple ministry of ‘goodbye’ can be as effective. In large cathedrals and churches, where it is not always possible to welcome or acknowledge each visitor, a simple greeting by the exit door can convey a positive message. At Lincoln Cathedral, for example, there is a prominently displayed notice which say ‘Peace be with you’ in fifteen languages on the front with the Aaronic blessing on the reverse: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord make his countenance shine upon you and give you his peace.
The verger is in the front line of all activities within the church. He is, more often than not, the first or only representative of the church a passing visitor might see; therefore it is important that he be sympathetic to a positive ministry of welcome. After all, on never gets a second chance to make a first impression.
At best, a ministry of welcome includes a team of people ready at any given time (during open hours) to assist the visitor, tourist or pilgrim; or a verger ready to give a word of welcome or lend a listening ear, wiling to take time to stop and assist; or even a well-lit warm church with plenty of up-to-date information to hand about the church, its ministry and its activities.
At worst, the visitor is met by a cold dark building with out-of-date notices; or a locked church with a note pinned to the door indicating the whereabouts of the keyholder; or a church official busy going about his business without a though for those who might be on the fringe wanting, or indeed needing, to be noticed and helped; or someone ready to pounce and monopolise the visitors’ time, all the while encouraging them towards the offering box.
A visit to a church should be an experience, perhaps a life-changing experience. An old church building is a tangible reminder of the continuity of Christianity, recalling our roots. Visitors may well be either attracted or repelled by what the find. Let the very stones welcome the visitor as much as they can – they have a quiet calm ministry that is as important as any personal approach.
The Church has a ministry to everyone. It makes contact with the regular parishioners with relative ease, but as an extension of its ministry, needs to be aware of others who may use the building for whatever reason; visitor, tourist, pilgrim, tradesman, the Church has a ministry to them all. One of its aims should be to turn all visitors into pilgrims.
People want or expect to find a church open. Whether they come looking for a house of prayer, a work of art or even a sanctuary from a storm, some sort of welcome is required; having a verger present in the building can only be a benefit to both church and visitor. A locked church, even with a notice indicating the whereabouts of the key, presents a negative image. A church that is open, warm and manned, presents an image of care that speaks of the living faith it represents. This is a form of evangelism that should not be overlooked or underestimated, since the church itself can touch people in a unique way.
What are the constituents of a ministry of welcome? First it should be clear that all are indeed welcome. This welcoming atmosphere may be created, as mentioned earlier, by a warm, well-lit church with clear, well-written leaflets, and a notice boards which are tidy, not dog-eared, and only display relevant up-to-date information; our-of-date notices suggest an out-of-date message. Posters need to be arresting and eye-catching. Personnel play a large part and really there can be no substitute for a physical presence in the church. The verger and his team should always be ready to talk and to listen and should look tidy, whether in work clothes or ceremonial dress.
An agreed strategy for welcoming visitors is helpful – differing approaches can confuse and annoy the public. For instance, if a visitor arrives while a service is in progress then the verger has a responsibility to give a welcome and to inform the visitor of the options, whether to join in with the activity, sit at the rear for a while and observe or to come back at a later time. To force visitors to participate may be the best way to turn them away, with no hope of return. Likewise, to say at the outset ‘There is a service on’ and offer no options or explanation may turn the casual visitor into a rejected pilgrim.
Important as a ministry of welcome is a simple ministry of ‘goodbye’ can be as effective. In large cathedrals and churches, where it is not always possible to welcome or acknowledge each visitor, a simple greeting by the exit door can convey a positive message. At Lincoln Cathedral, for example, there is a prominently displayed notice which say ‘Peace be with you’ in fifteen languages on the front with the Aaronic blessing on the reverse: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord make his countenance shine upon you and give you his peace.