Costly rectory building to be put up for sale

A parish has agreed to sell its rectory building and replace it with a cheaper alternative.

St Martin's parishioners voted 55 to one in favour of the sale on Thursday after constables said it needed "substantial investment" of about £150,000 to maintain and improve the property.

The parish now plans to invest in a smaller, more affordable property for a new rector as required by law until the end of 2029.

Constable Rob Prow said efforts would now be made to sell up and purchase "a much more sustainable, smaller, modern three-bedroom property".

He said: "It's a very old building and it was costing ratepayers an awful lot of money to upkeep.

"It was far too large for a rector and their household."

A requirement for parish ratepayers across the island to pay for rectories was scrapped in April 2025, but the change has not come into force yet.

Prow added: "The constables still have an obligation to accommodate a rector until the end of 2029.

"We understand that in this term the legislation that will remove the obligation should come to the States, so we will know by the end of 2029 hopefully whether that obligation remains."

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