Ratepayers covering rectory costs could be axed

1 day ago

George Thorpe

BBC News

Parishes in Guernsey might not have to cover the costs of maintaining rectories - like this one in St Martin - in the future

BBC A large rectory house in St Martin, Guernsey. It is a detached grey-coloured building with several sash windows, a stone fence and a blue gate. A woman wearing a purple coat is walking on the pavement. — Parishes in Guernsey might not have to cover the costs of maintaining rectories - like this one in St Martin - in the future

A requirement for ratepayers in Guernsey parishes to pay for rectories could be scrapped.

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 rectory.

However, 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 2035.

The 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 ratepayers.

Historically, parish-owned land has helped fund rectories but additional income is needed to meet rising housing costs

The States said there was a dispute involving the maintenance costs of the St Saviour rectory, which is occupied by a rector covering both the St Saviour and Torteval parishes.

The 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 issues.

In 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 removed.

These 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 said.

The BBC has approached the Dean of Guernsey Tim Barker for comment.

Senior Constable of St Martin Dave Beausire says "things need to change"

Senior Constable of St Martin Dave Beausire stands in front of his parish's rectory. He has square-rimmed glasses on and is wearing a navy blue coat and sandy coloured jumper. — Senior Constable of St Martin Dave Beausire says "things need to change"

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 2035.

He said a lot of the island's rectories were old buildings that needed a lot of maintenance.

He 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."

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