Beadle

A beadle is someone who works at a church or a Jewish synagogue and helps the clergy. A beadle's main job is to show people to their seats and to keep order during church services. In the past they were important in running workhouses.

Like many words that describe a person's job, the word beadle can also be used as a last name.

Beadle Media

• Lackadaisical-Beadle-Punch-1850.png

  Humorous drawing of a 19th-century beadle with mace (staff), artist unknown, Punch (the British magazine), v. 18, p. 230 (1850)

• Mr Bumble 1889 Dickens Oliver Twist character by Kyd (Joseph Clayton Clarke).jpg

  Mr. Bumble, a beadle in Oliver Twist, by 'Kyd' (Joseph Clayton Clarke)

• Cam degree ceremony.jpg

  The Esquire Bedell of the University of Cambridge, carrying one of the university maces

• Glasgow Caledonian University Mace.png

  The Ceremonial Bedellus of Glasgow Caledonian University carrying the university's ceremonial mace

• Lord Mayor show 2007 (2082987057).jpg

  Ward beadles escorting their Aldermen at the Lord Mayor's Show.

• Lord Mayor's Show 2010 - 15.jpg

  Taken at the Lord Mayor's Show parade on Victoria Embankment, London.

• David Wilkie (1785-1841) - The Parish Beadle - N00241 - National Gallery.jpg

  The Parish Beadle by David Wilkie, 1823