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A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments (such as the alb
Alb

The alb, one of the liturgy vestments of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches, is an ample garment of white linen coming down to the ankles and usually girded with a cincture....
 and chasuble
Chasuble

The chasuble is the outermost liturgy vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian Churches that use full vestments, primarily in the Roman Catholic Church, in "high church" and "broad church" Anglicanism congregations, and in some parts of the United Methodist Church and Lutheranism Churches...
) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.

The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building (as in some monasteries
Monastery

Monastery , a term derived from the Greek language word ???ast?????, neut. of ???ast????? - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of Monk, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in Cenobium or alone ....
). In most older churches the sacristy is near one of the side altar
Altar

An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religion, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place....
s 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.






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A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments (such as the alb
Alb

The alb, one of the liturgy vestments of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches, is an ample garment of white linen coming down to the ankles and usually girded with a cincture....
 and chasuble
Chasuble

The chasuble is the outermost liturgy vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian Churches that use full vestments, primarily in the Roman Catholic Church, in "high church" and "broad church" Anglicanism congregations, and in some parts of the United Methodist Church and Lutheranism Churches...
) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.

The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building (as in some monasteries
Monastery

Monastery , a term derived from the Greek language word ???ast?????, neut. of ???ast????? - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of Monk, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in Cenobium or alone ....
). In most older churches the sacristy is near one of the side altar
Altar

An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religion, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place....
s 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 have more than one sacristy, each of which will have a specific function. Often additional sacristies are used for maintaining the church and its items - such as candles and other materials.

The sacristy is also where the priest
Priest

A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities....
 and attendant
Attendant

Attendant may refer to:* Car attendant, a railroad employee* Flight attendant, flight crew employed to ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers...
s vest and prepare before the service
Church service

In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism....
. They will return there at the end of the service to remove their vestments and put away any of the vessels used during the service. The hangings and altar linens
Altar cloth

An altar cloth is used by various religious groups to cover an altar. Christianity, ancient Judaism, and Buddhism are among the world religions that use altar cloths....
 are stored there as well. The Parish register
Parish register

A parish register is a book, normally kept in a parish church, in which details of baptisms, marriages and burials are recorded....
s may be kept in the sacristy and are administered by the parish clerk
Clerk

Clerk, the vocational title, commonly refers to a white-collar worker who conducts general office or, in some instances, sales tasks. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service counters and other administrative tasks....
.

Sacristies usually contain a special wash basin, called a sacrarium, in which the drain flows directly into the ground to prevent sacred items such as used baptismal water from being washed into the sewers or septic tanks. The sacrarium is used to wash linens used during the celebration of the Mass
Mass

In physical science, mass refers to the degree of acceleration a body acquires when subject to a force: bodies with greater mass are accelerated less by the same force....
 and purificators used during Holy Communion. The cruet
Cruet

A cruet, , is a small flask shaped vessel, usually made with an integral lip or spout and a stopper or lid. It is flat-bottomed with a narrow neck, and may also have a handle incorporated in its design....
s, chalice
Chalice (cup)

A chalice is a goblet intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for quaffing during a ceremony....
, ciborium
Ciborium

A ciborium is a covered container used in Roman Catholic Church, Anglican, and related churches to store the consecration host s of the sacrament of Holy Communion....
, paten
Paten

A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic Host which is to be consecrated. It is generally used during the service itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the Church tabernacle in a Ciborium ....
, altar linens and sometimes the Holy Oils are kept inside the sacristy. Sacristies are usually off limits to the general public. The word "sacristy" derives from the Latin sacristia, sometimes spelled sacrastia.

A person in charge of the sacristy and its contents is called a sacrist or a sacristan
Sacristan

A sacristan is an officer who is charged with the care of the sacristy, the Church , and their contents.In ancient times many duties of the sacristan were performed by the doorkeepers , later by the mansionarii and the treasurers....
. The latter name was formerly given to the sexton
Sexton (office)

A sexton is a church officer charged with the maintenance of the church buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard.In smaller churches, this office is often combined with that of verger....
 of a parish church
Parish church

A parish church, in Christianity, is the local church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopalian church governance churches....
, where he would have cared for these things, the fabric of the building and the grounds.

In Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity

Eastern Christianity refers collectively to the Christianity traditions and churches which developed in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Christianity in Africa and southern India over several centuries of religious antiquity....
, the functions of the sacristy are fulfilled by the Diaconicon
Diaconicon

The Diaconicon is, in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches Churches, the name given to a chamber on the south side of the central apse of the church, where the vestments, books, etc, that are used in the Divine Services of the church are kept ....
 and the Prothesis
Prothesis

Prothesis may mean one of the following:*Prothesis is part of the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Also the chapel within the sanctuary where this part of the service takes place...
, two rooms or areas adjacent to the Holy Table (Altar).

See also

  • Sexton
    Sexton (office)

    A sexton is a church officer charged with the maintenance of the church buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard.In smaller churches, this office is often combined with that of verger....
  • Antependium
  • Altar cloth
    Altar cloth

    An altar cloth is used by various religious groups to cover an altar. Christianity, ancient Judaism, and Buddhism are among the world religions that use altar cloths....
  • Vestry
    Vestry

    A vestry is a storage room in or attached to a Church or synagogue. A vestry is also an administrative committee of a church....


External links

  • article from Catholic Encyclopedia
    Catholic Encyclopedia

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English language encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia Press....