Sacristy

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A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments (such as the cassock and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and church treasures. The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but it could be an annex or separate building (as in some monasteries). In most older churches the sacristy is near one of the side altars or more usually behind or to the side of the main altar. In newer churches the sacristy is often in another location, such as near the entrances to the church. Some churches will have more than one sacristy, each of which will have a specific function. Often additional sacristries are used for maintaining the church and its items - such as candles and other materials.

The sacristy is also where the priest and attendants vest and prepare before the service. They will return there at the end of the service to remove the vestments and put away any of the vessels used in the service. The parochial registers are usually held in the sacristy and are administered by the parish clerk. Sacristies usually contain a special wash basin, a sacrarium, in which the outlet flows directly into the ground. This wash basin is used to wash linens used during the celebration of the Mass and purificators used during Holy Communion. The cruets, chalice, ciborium, paten, and altar linens (and sometimes the Eucharist itself) are kept inside the sacristy. Sacristies are usually off limits to the general public. The word "sacristy" derives from the Latin "sacristia".

A person in charge of the sacristy and its contents is called a sacrist or a sacristan. The latter name was formerly given to the sexton of a parish church, where he would have cared for these things, the fabric of the building and the grounds. (OED)

[edit] Reference

• OED. Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. (1972)