St Sampson’s rector announces her resignation

Mrs Nobes was the first woman to hold a full-time stipendiary role within the established church in Guernsey when she was inducted in October 2019.

But, she told her congregation on Sunday, she feels she is being called elsewhere.

She said she had realised soon after she arrived that her role would be an interim one.

‘Following on from discussions with the Dean of Guernsey shortly after my arrival, I recognised that I would have to regard the tenure of my incumbency as a period of interim ministry whereby I would set out to strengthen governance and help the churches discern their future direction.

‘Although this was partially impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, new procedures are in place, a church advisory council has now been established at St Sampson’s and work on a process of discernment of the future direction of the churches is ongoing.

‘Having completed this process and after much prayer and reflection, I feel that God is calling me to explore new areas of ministry.

‘I have therefore advised the Dean and the Bishop of my decision to resign as Rector of St Sampson and I expect my final services in the parish to be on 31 January 2021.’

When Mrs Nobes took over, the church had not had a rector for more than a year, after the Rev. Tim Dack left in summer 2018.

Mr Dack had taken over in 2018, after the church had been without a rector for several years following the departure of the Rev. Phil Baskerville.

St Mary’s Church at L’Islet also falls within the parish and, following Mrs Nobes’ statement, the churchwardens and rectors of St Sampson’s and St Mary’s expressed their gratitude.

‘We are very grateful to Gill Nobes for her ministry at St Sampson’s and St Mary’s churches since her return to Guernsey last year,’ they said.

‘Gill has worked hard to improve our governance and our safeguarding practice.

‘We wish Gill and Andy well in the ministry opportunities that lie ahead for them.

‘They will leave the parish with our warm and heartfelt thanks.’