Rectories' days surely numbered
SOME 15 years ago the States established a committee to address some of the issues emerging from the historic practices around islanders financially supporting the buildings of the Church of England in Guernsey.
After lengthy deliberations, it concluded, more or less, that everything should stay as it was. But now, via amendment on a policy letter addressing a much more specific, and narrower issue, the matter will be coming back before the States.
And this time, the Church of England must be bracing itself for an uncomfortable outcome.
The parishes, apart from Vale, which is unique in the church owning its rectory, have all agreed that change should be investigated. Specifically, if the parish continues to own its rectory, then the church or rector should pay market rent for it. But other options could easily emerge if the principle of parish support for the church is damaged. And that seems inevitable.
There would be some opposition, but it’s likely that ratepayer support for the parish church, as historic monuments as much as anything else, won’t change. But parishes’ arrangements over rectories are now very different from each other, some don’t even own a rectory any more, and some don’t have a full-time rector. It’s all heading one way, and a swift and clear direction, with appropriate time for the church to respond, would make sense to most.