Latest news with #ParochialChurchProperty
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dean of Guernsey warns of implications if rectory funding axed
The Dean of Guernsey says a proposal to stop ratepayers funding rectories will lead to "significant implications". The States of Guernsey is due to debate a Policy and Resources Committee report on Wednesday linked to a dispute involving Torteval and St Saviour parishes over the maintenance costs of a Church of England Guernsey's parishes are required to provide housing for rectors with the costs covered by ratepayers, but two deputies have proposed ending the policy from Very Reverend Tim Barker said he respected the "clear resolution of the States", but he cautioned work was needed to "consider the consequences". 'Difficult to justify' An amendment from Deputies Al Brouard and Susan Aldwell to the Parochial Church Property (Guernsey) Law 2015 called for a requirement for parishes to provide and cover clergy housing costs to be stopped from deputies said they felt the obligation to provide rectories free of charge had become "difficult to justify" in the 21st Barker said: "There will be significant implications, primarily for the clergy and their families who will be directly affected by the decision, but also for the Deanery of Guernsey and the work and ministry of our churches."We need to work carefully with the parishes and others to consider the consequences of the States resolution and what happens next."
BBC News
13-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey ratepayers covering rectory costs could be axed
A requirement for ratepayers in Guernsey parishes to pay for rectories could be States of Guernsey is due to debate a Policy and Resources Committee report on Wednesday linked to a dispute involving Torteval and St Saviour parishes over the maintenance costs of a Church of England an amendment from Deputies Al Brouard and Susan Aldwell to the Parochial Church Property (Guernsey) Law 2015 has called for a requirement for parishes to provide and cover clergy housing costs to be stopped from deputies said they felt the obligation to provide rectories free of charge had become "difficult to justify" in the 21st Century. Currently, Guernsey's parishes are required to provide housing for rectors with the costs covered by States said there was a dispute involving the maintenance costs of the St Saviour rectory, which is occupied by a reverend covering both the St Saviour and Torteval government said St Saviour believed the costs should be covered by both parishes, but Torteval has argued it was not required to do so as the rectory was not in their parish. 'More secular society' The amendment proposed the obligation should be stopped from 1 January, 2035 to provide a "lengthy transitional period" to discuss accommodation arrangements and other their amendment, Brouard and Aldwell said there were a number of reasons why they felt the obligation to parishes to pay for rectories should be included parishioners having more varied religious backgrounds, more pressure on parish funds and Guernsey being a "more secular society"."The basis of a continued duty or obligation to provide rectors and their households with housing free of charge is difficult to justify," the deputies BBC has approached the Dean of Guernsey Tim Barker for comment. St Martin's Senior Constable Dave Beausire said he supported the amendment put forward, although he would like the obligation to be removed earlier than said a lot of the island's rectories were old buildings that needed a lot of said this could cost ratepayers, including those who were not religious or who followed another faith, hundreds of thousands of pounds."This is not a religious issue, this is a practical issue," Beausire added."In this day and age, things need to change because there's always a cost and the cost is getting higher."
