Three Steps Closer Together

Both the Guernsey and Jersey Deanery Synods have voted unanimously to accept the recommendations of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission that the Channel Islands should join our Diocese. The Recommendations were also approved at the end of last week at a meeting of The Archbishops’ Council.

It is now hoped that the Business Committee of Synod will agree to the fast-tracking of the legislation for first consideration in February.

Bishop Nicholas said:

"It is good that we have the warm support from the two Deanery Synods and Salisbury Diocesan Synod."

At the November meeting of our Diocesan Synod, Bishop Nicholas thanked Synod for welcoming the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission’s Report and our commitment to work with its recommendations.

The Archbishop appointed a Commission on the relationship of the Channel Islands to the wider Church of England in 2018, and when their report was published in October this year, it concluded that for a number of reasons - from ease of transport links to episcopal capacity for oversight - the Channel Islands would be strengthened in a new relationship with the Diocese of Salisbury.

Bishop Nicholas told Diocesan Synod:

"The Church in the Islands recognises that they are stronger within the framework of belonging to a Diocese. Christian life is better together."

Should the proposals be approved, the earliest that the attachment to Salisbury could take formal effect would be the autumn of 2020.

The Bishop said that the next task would be for “the Diocesan Secretary and myself to work with the Deans of Jersey and Guernsey on a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the respective roles of Bishop and Dean, and between Diocese and their Deaneries.

“This will need to be relatively detailed so as to ensure that this new relationship will be cost-neutral to the Diocese of Salisbury. However, I expect the Channel Islands coming into the Diocese to be a significant gift to us and to them as we grow together in the way of Jesus Christ.”