Could be a solution, e.g. as in

The most important documents in the Church Chest are the Registers, which in the case of Papplewick begin in 1661; and in the case of Linby, 1692. ...
www.nottshistory.org.uk/butler1953/linby8.htm - 33k - Cached - Similar pages

now sometimes used to mean collection box. Used to be where all important documents and plate etc. were kept

The alms of the people were dropped through holes in the lid of the church chest which had three different locks and keys, so that it could only be opened in the presence of the vicar and both churchwardens.

http://www.thrale.com/history/english/sandridge/historic_san...

"Fabrique" ususally refers --in the art hysterical literature-- to the physical fabric of the building itself, so my first thought when I saw your term was that this was the collection box in the church for the maintence of the building.

From your context it's simply not clear that this is not what is intended in your text, so that's still a possibility.

But from the explanation of "fabrique" (which I assume is *not* in your text, per se) it would seem that it's a question of a large "chest" which held the precious liturgical objects of the church.

Euqinimod's "treasure chest" conveys something of this meaning, but I believe that this object would not have been what we think of as a "chest" --a large box which sits on the floor, it's contents stacked higgly-piggly inside-- but rather would have been a substantial piece of furniture, a large cabinet, with strong (lockable) doors and shelves inside to hold the metalwork, reliquaries, etc.

(Against this interpretation, however, might be the use of "coffre" to refer to the object, rather than "armoire." It's really an armoire that I have in mind.)

I know of no example of these which have survived from the middle ages in France, but have seen pictures of some in German churches and will try to find one on the web somewhere.

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-06-22 12:28:28 GMT)
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Although ordinary readers might think that "treasury" refers to the *money* which the church had on hand, it refers, of course, to the precious objects (usually in "minor arts" media, metalwork, ivories, perhaps even manuscripts) which the church possessed.

In today's larger churches it usually costs a few francs to "visite le tresor," a room in the church set aside for the display of the "treasury," which might include the ancient cabinet which originally contained it, if such survived.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-06-22 12:35:01 GMT)
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Here's an 18th c. engraving of the "Tresor de Saint Denis" which conveys something of what I have in mind:

http://vrcoll.fa.pitt.edu/medart/image/France/sdenis/felebie...

However, I believe that this display reflects more of an early modern layout than would have been the case in the Middle Ages.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-06-22 12:40:12 GMT)
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A modern German "Schatzkammer" display (I'm still looking for a surviving "coffre":

http://www.meschede.de/kultur/sehenswuerdigkeiten/kernstadt_...

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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-06-22 14:55:44 GMT)
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Here's the kind of armoire I have in mind:

http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/roe/roe16.jpg

and

http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/champeaux/champ36.jpg

Rather than something like this:

http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/roe/roe02.jpg

or

http://www.medievalwoodworking.com/roe/roe10-1.jpg

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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-06-22 17:03:42 GMT)
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This "definition" of "fabrique" is not one which I am familiar with, but here goes:

In addition to the three altars and retables, the confessionals and several statues, the church has a cabinet holding the "fabric."

The term "fabric" refers to both the property of a parish and to the person in charge of its care. The archives, the metalwork and precious liturgical objects (ciborium chalice, etc.) were preserved in this kind of cabinet, the three locks corresponding to the division of power between the three different caretakers ("fabriciens") of these properties, each of whom would have one of the keys which could open the cabinet.


It's not clear to me from this if the "coffre" was a simple "chest" or the more elaborate "armoire"/cabinet I have in mind --this might depend upon the size of the church, its importance and the state of the survival of the objects concerned.

If it were simply a question of the "archives" (i.e., the written documents) belonging to the church, the object in question would be called (in U.K. English) a "muniments chest/cabinet."

In a large and substantial ecclesiastical institution (e.g., a cathedral) the Chancellor of the chapter would be in charge of those records.

But here you've apparently got other stuff as well, the metalwork and the liturgical impliments --these would probably be in the charge of the sacristan or "chefecier" (_capicerius_ in Latin).

Since you've got three locks, it sounds like all three fellows would have had to be present --with their keys-- to open the thing.

This is a security measure, necessary in a time in which lots of stuff that wasn't Nailed Down tended to Go Walkabout.