sexton
- noun
- /ˈsɛkstən/
- After the storm, the sexton checked the church roof for any damage.
- sexton for the church
Examples
-
You're right, Sexton, but maybe the sound of this church bell will bring those poor people some comfort.
-
Perhaps the sexton visited it sometimes.
Fiction book (1997) -
A small church, led by a pastor and a sexton, serves the town.
Fiction book (1999) -
The sound the sexton makes when he rings the church bells.
Academic text (1990) -
The priest cried out and collapsed against the sexton.
Fiction book (1993) -
Unfortunately, the sexton caught him and summoned the mealy-faced old German priest.
Fiction book (1993) -
The sexton pried open the coffin to find its occupant lying face down.
Academic text (2014) -
The cantor, the rabbi, the sexton, and Sam laid it reverently in the little cleared-out room.
Fiction book (1997) -
And this is perhaps a bigger issue for church musicians, educators, sextons, office managers, and financial secretaries.
Blog text (12) -
The sexton rang the church bell to signal the start of the service.
Synonyms
A person in a church who looks after the altar and holy objects
A person in some Anglican or Episcopal churches who helps the priest with church buildings and money
A person who has an official job in a church and helps lead it
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sexton comes from an old word for a church helper, like sacristan, which means someone who cares for the 'sacred' things of a church. So a sexton is the person who looks after the building, the holy objects and often rings the bell.