Sexton (office)

A sexton is an officer of a church, congregation, or synagogue charged with the maintenance of its buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard. In smaller places of worship, this office is often combined with that of verger.[1] In larger buildings, such as cathedrals, a team of sextons may be employed.[2]

See also: Sacristan

Historically in North America and the United Kingdom the "sexton" was sometimes a minor municipal official responsible for overseeing the town graveyard. In the United Kingdom the position still exists today, related to management of the community's graveyard, and the sexton is usually employed by the town/parish or community council.[3][4]

Origin of the name
Hablot Knight Browne illustration: "The Goblin and the sexton" (published in The Pickwick Papers, 1837)

The words "sexton" and "sacristan" both derive from the Medieval Latin word sacristanus meaning "custodian of sacred objects". "Sexton" represents the popular development of the word via the Old French "Segrestein".[5]

Duties

Among the traditional duties of the sexton in small parishes was the digging of graves—the gravedigger in Hamlet refers to himself as sexton, for example.[6] In modern times, grave digging is usually done by an outside contractor. The general duties of a modern sexton may include (but are not limited to):[7]

  • Operation and maintenance of mechanical systems, such as: refrigerators, boilers, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units, hot water systems, kitchen equipment, electrical system, and piping systems (i.e., gas, water, fire protection, and sewer systems).
  • Liaison with any routine contract maintenance and supply companies (regarding: large maintenance projects, fire and safety, pest control, kitchen and worship materials, etc.)
  • Ordering and receiving supplies and equipment.
  • Stocking supplies (paper towels, toilet paper, soap, etc.)
  • Tasks involving aesthetics, security (locking doors, etc.), and fire protection (fire extinguisher testing, etc.).
  • Logistics for regular services and events on church calendar (chairs and tables, decorating, lighting, acoustics, audio and video, etc.).
  • Emergency response during bad weather.
  • Small building repairs.
  • Maintaining the grounds, including: grass mowing, hedge/shrub trimming and tree pruning, snow removal, fall clean up, and other landscaping work.
  • Other maintenance tasks not handled by a contract service or church volunteers, such as: the replacement of light bulbs and ceiling tiles, returning premises to a neat and orderly state following services and events, cleaning, disposal of trash (rubbish), running any local errands or trips that are needed by the church, and other miscellaneous tasks.
  • Following building code.
  • Report to supervisors (about tasks completion, mishaps, etc.).

In many UK churches nowadays, where neither a sexton nor a verger is employed, these duties are likely to fall to the churchwardens.[8]

See also

References
  1. "St Thomas' Church History". Archived from the original on 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  2. "The Episcopal Diocese of California Employment Opportunities". 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  3. "Falmouth Town Council staff list". Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  4. "Ferryhill Council job description" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  5. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. sexton, sacrist, sacristan, segerstein.
  6. Project Gutenberg Hamlet by William Shakespeare Accessed 2007-12-04
  7. "Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Fourth Edition". U.S. Department of Labor. 1991. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  8. Clements, Matthew (2018). Rotas, Rules and Rectors - How to Thrive being a Churchwarden. London: Matador. pp. 12–14. ISBN 978-1-78901-631-4.
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