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sexton

sexton

5 9.2
A church worker who looks after the building and rings the bell
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛkstən/
translation icon : sacristán
  • 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

sacristan
vssexton
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A person in a church who looks after the altar and holy objects

is responsible also for the building and for ringing or maintaining bells
churchwarden
vssexton
  • UK
1 9.3

A person in some Anglican or Episcopal churches who helps the priest with church buildings and money

focuses on physical building care and bell duties rather than administration
church officer
vssexton
4.4

A person who has an official job in a church and helps lead it

is a specific role focused on building objects and bell duties

Surface Forms

sexton singular
sextons plural

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.