Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sexton \Sex"ton\, n. [OE. sextein, contr. fr. sacristan.]
   An under officer of a church, whose business is to take care
   of the church building and the vessels, vestments, etc.,
   belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating
   clergyman, and to perform other duties pertaining to the
   church, such as to dig graves, ring the bell, etc.

   {Sexton beetle} (Zo["o]l.), a burying beetle.