Verger

**The Verging Department**

Vergers play a key role in the daily practical function of the Cathedral as a place of worship and for the many other roles and activities which it serves. The vergers’ work is diverse and interesting, and they hold much responsibility.

Vergers have custodial oversight of a substantial complex of buildings: The Cathedral, the Cathedral Centre, the Cloisters, Pilgrims’ Kitchen, the Shop, the Edmund Gallery and other ancillary buildings. They prepare for services, events and activities; take an active part in worship; ensure cleanliness and high standards of presentation; are leaders in health and safety; and are a touchstone for a myriad of small practical details. Appreciation and acceptance of the wide-ranging and flexible nature of the vergers’ work is important.

This wide-ranging work means that vergers interact with every Cathedral department. Vergers also play an important role in encouraging and engaging with the many volunteers who give vital service and support to the Cathedral. The vergers meet people from all walks of life on a daily basis, and they are often the first person an individual or group will encounter. All this makes the vergers key ambassadors for the Cathedral, especially in extending welcome, helpfulness, courtesy, diplomacy, patience, and kindness.

The Cathedral is open every day of the year from early morning (in readiness for the first service of the day) until early evening (after the final service of the day). In addition to this, evening events and activities often mean that these hours are extended. Whenever the Cathedral is open a verger is on duty and it is the responsibility of the duty verger to open and close the Cathedral and Cathedral Centre accordingly. The verging department comprises the Head Verger and Events Manager, 2 full-time vergers, 2 part-time vergers and 3 Honorary vergers.

**Key Responsibilities of the post**
- The care of the Cathedral and its buildings including ensuring all areas are in good order, clean and well maintained.
- To share and undertake liturgical and sacristy duties for services when on duty including the ceremonial role of the Verger.
- To help prepare the Cathedral for services, events and for daily activity and return to good order afterwards.
- To monitor essential supplies for the Cathedral and all buildings including sacristy supplies, altar requisites, cleaning and hygiene supplies.
- To play a key role in the security of the Cathedral and all buildings including being responsible for opening and closing the Cathedral, being a visible presence and practising vigilance when on duty, and emptying donation boxes.
- To be welcoming to all visitors to the Cathedral while exercising compassion, understanding and discretion particularly when dealing with vulnerable people, and ensuring that visitors are respectful of other people and their surroundings.
- To help mitigate health and safety risks by ensuring that all areas accessible to staff and public are kept in a safe condition and by reporting any hazards to the relevant person.
- To be the first point of contact in an emergency situation. This will include attending situations requiring First Aid, acting as a Fire Marshal in the case of a fire, and implementing the evacuation procedure where needed. The Duty Verger is required to be contactable at all times via the paging system and Vergers’ mobile phone.
- To be available for services, concerts and other events to assist with the setup, removal and re-instatement of furniture and staging and to welcome and assist organisers as required. This may be outside normal working hours in accordance with the rota provision.
- This post requires the Verger to work a minimum of two Sunday’s per month, and on occasion both Saturday and Sunday to cover when other members of the team are away on Annual Leave. It would be possible to request a regular midweek day-off at interview.
- Perform such other duties as are reasonably requested by the Head Verger and Events Manager or the Deputy Head Verger.

**Person Specification**

There is a genuine occupational requirement (GOR) that the Verger will be a communicant member of the Church of England or a church in communion with it. Full training will be given, and the appointment of the right person is more important than previous verger experience.
- Essential qualities _
- A desire to work within a Christian community and to be part of its worshipping life.
- To be physically fit as this role requires you to be able to move and lift heavy items and to work at heights without fear.
- To be flexible about working unsociable hours, including weekends and evenings and working overtime when needed.
- To be a people person with a positive attitude to colleagues, congregation and visitors.
- To be motivated and able to work both alone with minimum supervision and as part of a team.
- To have attention to detail with the ability to memorise small details and routines.