Guernsey Press

Parish right to sell off rectories may be blocked

CHURCH officials could be allowed to block ratepayers from selling rectories as part of proposed new legislation that has divided and angered some parishes.

Published

The confidential, and still being amended, draft legislation, which was put out to consultation by the Parochial and Ecclesiastical Rates Review Committee (Perrc), has provoked a backlash of criticism amid fears the States could be presented with a watered down version of proposals approved in 2012.

Parish officials are particularly concerned that the committee is moving away from one key part of those proposals, when the States effectively agreed that a meeting of the ratepayers could decide to sell the rectory and use the money for non-religious purposes

However, under the draft legislation, which has been seen by douzaines, further approval might have to be sought from the deanery synod and rector before the sale was given the green light.

Perrc chairman Deputy John Gollop said it had taken on board the concerns raised by all the parishes during the consultation process.

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