The Channel Islands Clergy visit to Salisbury Diocese

Mike Keirle, Dean of Jersey writes:

The Diocese welcomed 25 Clergy from across the Islands, together with the Deans of Guernsey and Jersey for a visit over two and a half days, in preparation for the formal attachment to Salisbury which will take place later this year. Staying at Sarum College, we met the Diocesan Secretary, David Pain and some of the administrative team from Church House. It was a useful exercise in putting names to faces, as well as an opportunity to begin to build relationships with those who will support the Islands in the coming years in areas like mission and ministry, safeguarding, and finance.

The Clergy also met Bishop Karen, who gave us a whistle-stop tour of the Diocese, emphasizing that the distinctiveness of the Islands and their respective cultures is also mirrored across Salisbury Diocese in its different communities across county boundaries, market towns, urban areas and rural locations. With a culture that has its origins in Norman French, its own legislature and judiciary and a Church parish system that is very different to the rest of the Church of England mainland, (including no PCCs!!), we felt grateful that Salisbury is used to embracing uniqueness!

With his interest in the ‘theology of place’, and with the Islands presenting a very different model of what it means to be a parish, Bishop Andrew was an obvious speaker to invite. The Clergy had two hours with him exploring theologically what it means to be the people of God within the boundaries and communities that we live. Island Clergy found it particularly helpful to articulate what it means to be “attached to” a new Diocese, and how we can belong and contribute to our common life together. We look forward to exploring this more as our friendships and relationships deepen over time.

Island Clergy also received a warm welcome from Dean Nicholas and the Cathedral community. We enjoyed worshipping with the congregation at Morning Prayer and Evensong, as well as participating in Cathedral Floor tours and the ever popular tower tour.

We were also particularly grateful to meet with Dean Stephen Lake, as he prepares to take on the role of the Bishop of Salisbury. After introducing himself, he reflected on seeing the ferries heading off to the Islands in his youth from Poole Harbour.  He expressed how much he was looking forward to being Bishop for the Channel Islands, and how important it is that the Church, both in Salisbury and in the Channel Islands, is “good news”, as we emerge out of Covid and look around at a hurting and broken world.

With a final session on models of leadership from Tim Harle, a long time friend of Sarum College, Island Clergy all felt that the visit had been an excellent introduction to the Diocese, an opportunity to be fed at Sarum (in every possible way) and to be able to plan our engagement with the Diocese in creative and imaginative ways. We look forward to our official attachment in the coming months and to getting to know you all.