Nearly 80 vergers from around the country will gather in Beverley Minster on Tuesday, May 21 for a special event.
Vergers, or ‘virgers’ are the people responsible behind-the-scenes for getting churches and cathedrals ready for services, concerts and other events as well as doing the 101 other duties that no one else can or will. No two vergers have an identical job, but all share a common desire to maintain the standards and traditions of their churches.
Beverley Minster is hosting this year’s day-long Northern Province Festival for the Church of England Guild of Vergers (CEGV). The festival includes a special celebratory communion service in the morning, a pastoral lunch prepared by the Minster’s own catering team, followed by special tours of the church and other relevant attractions in the town.
Neil Pickford, Area Leader for the Yorkshire branches of the CEGV and assistant virger at Beverley Minster said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this event – the first time we’ve done it for many years. For most of us it will be a rare opportunity to meet distant colleagues and friends, then share our experiences and stories.
“Our small team at Beverley Minster is proud to show off our beautiful church but I’m sure we’ll learn many useful tips for improving how we look after it.”
Attendees are travelling from as far as Carlisle, London, Surrey and Malvern as members of the CEGV, which is supported by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury.