Deaneries have a new Diocese

       In October 2019, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s commission published a report on the relationship of the Channel Islands to the wider Church of England. It proposed that the deaneries in Guernsey and Jersey should be attached to the Diocese of Salisbury with the Bishop of Salisbury taking over episcopal responsibility for the islands from the Bishop of Winchester.

      This was welcomed by the Deanery Synods of both islands and the Salisbury Diocesan Synods at meetings later that year. The move has its roots in discontentment in the islands about its relationship with the Diocese of Winchester and the way a safeguarding issue in Jersey was investigated more than seven years ago. The General Synod completed all stages of the Channel Islands Measure 2020 at group sessions held at Westminster in February and it was subsequently approved by the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Royal Assent was given to the measure in July. The legal process to effect the change is complicated as it needs to respect both the independent jurisdictions of the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey and the role of the Church of England’s General Synod.

      Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Winchester, the Right Rev. Trevor Willmott, will retain legal responsibility for the Channel Islands (the Deaneries of Guernsey and Jersey) until the final legal transfer of jurisdiction is complete. ‘Without in any way pre-empting the legislative processes still to be completed, a number of functions have already transferred to Salisbury,’ said Mr Holtam in a letter. ‘Safeguarding and work to support the nurture and discernment of vocations has begun and is already working well. Thanks to Zoom, the Deans have attended Bishop’s Council and Bishop’s Staff. Clergy and Reader files have been received from Canterbury. Our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer includes your churches in the first quarter of the year.’

       He later added: ‘We want to move forward in developing the new relationship between the island Deaneries and Salisbury that is starting to emerge.’