The Dean’s Letter
By the Very Reverend Matthew Le Marinel
My dear Friends
Since I last wrote the States by a narrow majority, with three Rectors, and others, abstaining from voting, have decided that the Rectors shall cease to be ex-officio members of the Assembly and be replaced by elected deputies—a seat being retained for the Dean with the right of speech but not of vote.
From the point of view of the Church I have no doubt that this decision is to be welcomed. In Jersey, as elsewhere, the cure of souls in any parish is one that occupies the full time and energies of the Incumbent, while much of the work that we have hitherto been called upon to do, especially in Committee, can be done just as well by laymen; nor have we been ordained for public life or public work, however valuable or urgent these may be.
The Rectors will now be free to devote themselves entirely to their Priestly work without being constantly called away from their parishes on official business, and the work of the Church will gain enormously. But I wish I could be equally certain that the change will be for the good of the island. Time alone will prove this.
It is true that the Rectors will now be eligible for election as deputies, though I am bound to say that in my opinion it would be most undesirable for any of us to stand for election. Indeed we have unanimously agreed not to do so. Meanwhile we must all pray that suitable candidates will come forward to replace us, and that, when the time comes, the electorate will be guided aright in its choice.
The visit of the Bishop of Southampton passed off very happily, and came to an end all too soon. The various services and meetings were all very well attended, and His Lordship expressed to me his opinion that there are evident signs of spiritual vitality on the island and that church life is both active and vigorous. I need hardly say how much we look forward to the next occasion upon which he is able to come this way.
It was a great disappointment to us that. weather conditions curtailed the visit of Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery to the island, and made it impossible for him to attend the official service at St Helier's on the Sunday morning. His Lordship is above all a devoted son of the Church, a living example of how the highest character is always founded upon Christian principles and ideals.
Hearty congratulations to Rev F. W. Killer, Vicar of S. Mark's, who on Trinity Sunday kept the silver jubilee of his Ordination. We pray that he may be with us yet for many years to continue the splendid work that he is doing. Congratulations also to the Church in Guernsey on the appointment of Rev. E. L. Frossard, Rector of S. Sampson's, to the Deanery of that island. I am hoping to be present at his Installation by the Bishop on July 25th.
It was a great happiness to me to dedicate and bless on Trinity Sunday the handsome war memorial generously presented to Holy Trinity Church by Dr. and Mrs. Fraser. It is a very beautiful addition to an already beautiful church. It is much to be hoped that there will be in every church a memorial that records not only the sacrifice of those who laid down . their lives but also the gratitude of all for their deliverance and for the horrors that they were spared.
I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation and gratitude to all those who have offered me their congratulations on being installed as an Honorary Canon of Winchester. But in point of fact it is not really a matter for congratulation.
For by the new Cathedral Statutes, which came into force some three years ago, the Deans of Jersey and Guernsey, and also the Archdeacons of Winchester and Basingstoke, are ex-officio Honorary Canons of the Cathedral. All that has happened now is that somewhat late in the day I have been formally installed. None the less I deeply appreciate all the kind messages that I have received.
The Rectors will now be free to devote themselves entirely to their Priestly work without being constantly called away from their parishes on official business, and the work of the Church will gain enormously. But I wish I could be equally certain that the change will be for the good of the island. Time alone will prove this.
It is true that the Rectors will now be eligible for election as deputies, though I am bound to say that in my opinion it would be most undesirable for any of us to stand for election. Indeed we have unanimously agreed not to do so. Meanwhile we must all pray that suitable candidates will come forward to replace us, and that, when the time comes, the electorate will be guided aright in its choice.
The visit of the Bishop of Southampton passed off very happily, and came to an end all too soon. The various services and meetings were all very well attended, and His Lordship expressed to me his opinion that there are evident signs of spiritual vitality on the island and that church life is both active and vigorous. I need hardly say how much we look forward to the next occasion upon which he is able to come this way.
It was a great disappointment to us that. weather conditions curtailed the visit of Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery to the island, and made it impossible for him to attend the official service at St Helier's on the Sunday morning. His Lordship is above all a devoted son of the Church, a living example of how the highest character is always founded upon Christian principles and ideals.
Hearty congratulations to Rev F. W. Killer, Vicar of S. Mark's, who on Trinity Sunday kept the silver jubilee of his Ordination. We pray that he may be with us yet for many years to continue the splendid work that he is doing. Congratulations also to the Church in Guernsey on the appointment of Rev. E. L. Frossard, Rector of S. Sampson's, to the Deanery of that island. I am hoping to be present at his Installation by the Bishop on July 25th.
It was a great happiness to me to dedicate and bless on Trinity Sunday the handsome war memorial generously presented to Holy Trinity Church by Dr. and Mrs. Fraser. It is a very beautiful addition to an already beautiful church. It is much to be hoped that there will be in every church a memorial that records not only the sacrifice of those who laid down . their lives but also the gratitude of all for their deliverance and for the horrors that they were spared.
I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation and gratitude to all those who have offered me their congratulations on being installed as an Honorary Canon of Winchester. But in point of fact it is not really a matter for congratulation.
For by the new Cathedral Statutes, which came into force some three years ago, the Deans of Jersey and Guernsey, and also the Archdeacons of Winchester and Basingstoke, are ex-officio Honorary Canons of the Cathedral. All that has happened now is that somewhat late in the day I have been formally installed. None the less I deeply appreciate all the kind messages that I have received.
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