1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Verger

VERGER (M.E. vergere; O. Fr. vergier; Med. Lat. virgarius, one who bears a rod or staff, an apparitor; Lat. virga, rod), one who carries a “verge” or staff of office. The principal use of the term is ecclesiastical, and refers to the person who carries a staff as a symbol of office before a bishop or other church dignitary when taking part in a service, especially one held in a cathedral. The word has thus come to mean in general usage an official caretaker of any place of worship whose duty it is to show the building to those who wish to view it, and to find seats for the congregation at a service.