Parish Administration

The churches of the ten ancient parishes of Guernsey (St Peter Port, St Sampson, St Michel du Valle, Ste Marie du Castel, St Saviour, St Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Ste Marguerite de la Fôret, St Martin and St André de la Pommeraye) are owned by the ratepayers of the parish concerned. Consequently it is the ratepayers who are liable for their maintenance and upkeep.

The church of the island of Alderney is owned by the States of Alderney. The States of Alderney thus have similar (but not identical) responsibilities to the Guernsey ratepayers.

All other churches in Guernsey (St Stephen, St John the Evangelist and Holy Trinity, all of which are within the civil parish of St. Peter Port; St Matthew Cobo, which is in the civil parish of the Castel, and St Mary L’Islet, a daughter church of St Sampson) are owned by trustees who share responsibility for their maintenance and upkeep with the respective congregations.

Parishes in the Bailiwick of Guernsey do not have parochial church councils. The Rector or Vicar and the churchwardens have primary responsibility for leading the parish and agreeing mission priorities. But in most parishes, they are assisted by a 'church advisory committee' (the name varies from parish to parish) which is a forum for clergy, licensed lay ministers, churchwardens and lay representatives elected at the annual meeting to meet, pray and plan together.