The fundamental duties of the vestry entail defining and communicating the congregation's mission, promoting the church's mission through actions and words, choosing the rector, guaranteeing efficient planning and organization, and overseeing the management of resources and finances.

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The term "Vestry" originally referred to the room where priests dressed before a church service, while in America it was known as the "sacristy". Before the Reformation, parishes were served by either secular or religious priests, who were called Rectors and Vicars respectively. Laypeople in secular parishes began to assist the priest and held meetings in the Vestry, which became known as the "Vestry" itself. In those days, the Vestry also served as a village council that managed village politics, cared for the poor and lunatics, and maintained the roads. After the suppression of monastic orders during the Reformation, secular priests served all parishes and the Vestry's responsibilities shifted towards charitable work and managing parish funds. This system was brought to America, where Vestries assumed more church duties due to a scarcity of clergy and the leading families sometimes hired men on annual contracts to control the clergy. After the American Revolution, the Anglican Church was disestablished and Vestries lost their civil authority but retained their role in electing or calling a parish priest, managing parish funds, and caring for the church building.