Deputies voted by a two-thirds majority for an amendment from Christopher Le Tissier which directed that any customary duty on parishes to provide suitable accommodation for their rector and rector’s household should be abolished in January 2030.
Earlier in the day, the Assembly had backed an amendment from Deputy Al Brouard which would have provided rectors with 10 years’ notice, but by mid-afternoon it had decided to speed up the reforms.
Deputy Le Tissier argued that five years’ notice was more than adequate to remove ‘an anachronism’ which was ‘plainly inequitable’ to parish ratepayers who did not follow the Church of England.
‘It is essential to relieve the burden on ratepayers as soon as possible, rather than waiting 10 years, in view of the struggle islanders are having with the cost of living crisis,’ he said.
‘Parish rates are increasing to maintain these buildings, some of which have reached the end of their economic lives. The rectories have and will continue to cost parishes. In some cases, hundreds of thousands of pounds may be required to maintain the parish rectory.’
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Deputy Le Tissier anticipated that under the current arrangements some parishes could soon be forced to double rates or borrow money to fund property repairs.
Under his proposal, parishes would be free to continue funding rectories, if they wished, and he said that five years was ‘a reasonable transitional period’ during which parochial and church officials may wish to negotiate new arrangements on whatever basis suited them best.
He claimed that the Church of England was more than able to fund its rectors’ property and household costs.
‘As of December 2023, the Church of England has a large endowment of £9.97bn. which generates over £1bn. a year in income. Therefore, it should be able to assist the Deanery in maintaining its Guernsey rectories without dependency on struggling Guernsey parishioners,’ he said.
Detailed legislative changes will have to be approved by the next Assembly before the reforms come into effect.
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