Parishes of Guernsey
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The parishes of Guernsey are the ten civil parishes of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. They are based on ancient ecclesiastical parishes, each with its own parish church from which they get their names. They are the main administrative divisions of Guernsey, and are governed by an elected council known as a Douzaine.[1]
Parishes
[edit]Below are the ten parishes of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The parishes of Saint Anne, Alderney and Saint Peter, Sark are non-administrative and thus are not generally included in the enumeration of parishes.[2][3][4] Both these islands are instead administrated by their own respective autonomous legislature.
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| Parish | Population (2019) |
Area | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (vergées) | (km2) | (sq mi) | ||
| Castel | 8,795 | 6,224 | 10.200 | 3.938 |
| Forest | 1,546 | 2,508 | 4.110 | 1.587 |
| St Andrew | 2,295 | 2,752 | 4.510 | 1.741 |
| St Martin | 6,593 | 4,479 | 7.340 | 2.834 |
| St Peter Port | 18,958 | 4,074 | 6.677 | 2.578 |
| St Pierre du Bois | 2,036 | 3,818 | 6.257 | 2.416 |
| St Sampson | 8,966 | 3,687 | 6.042 | 2.333 |
| St Saviour | 2,765 | 3,892 | 6.378 | 2.463 |
| Torteval | 1,017 | 1,901 | 3.115 | 1.203 |
| Vale | 9,514 | 5,462 | 8.951 | 3.456 |
| St Anne, Alderneyn | 1,960 | 7.9 | 3.1 | |
| St Peter, Sarkn | 400 | 5.45 | 2.1 | |
n Non-administrative parishes
The islands of Herm and Jethou form part of the parish of St Peter Port. Lihou falls within the area of St Pierre du Bois.
History
[edit]The population of and names of the parish are recorded in The History of the Island of Guernsey in 1814.[5]
| Name in 1814 | Modern name | Population about |
|---|---|---|
| St Sampson's | 788 | |
| St Michael in the Vale | Vale | 1,064 |
| St Philip of Torteval | Torteval | 390 |
| St Saviour | 943 | |
| St Margaret of the Forest | Forest | 443 |
| St Peter of the Wood | St Pierre du Bois | 1,200 |
| St Martin | 1,265 | |
| Our Lady of Deliverance of the Castle (formerly Grand Sarazin) |
Castel | 1,500 |
| St Andrew | 700 | |
| St Peter's Port (or Town Parish) | 11,000 | |
| Sailors and strangers not permanently settled | 2,000 | |
| Total population | 21,293 |
Administration
[edit]
Each parish is administered by a council called a Douzaine, made up of Douzeniers who serve four-year terms. Each year in November, one quarter of the Douzeniers are elected by parishioners at a parish meeting. In most parishes there are twelve Douzeniers in total (Douzaine = "twelve") and so three are elected each year; exceptionally, the Vale elects four each year (total 16) and St Peter Port five (total 20). The senior Douzenier is known as the Doyen (Dean). To stand for election the candidate must reside in the parish.[6]
One or more Douzaine representatives represent their parish at the States of Election when a new Jurat is elected.[7]
Two elected Constables (French: Connétables) carry out the decisions of the Douzaine, serving for between one and three years. The longer-serving Constable is known as the Senior Constable and his or her colleague as the Junior Constable. Historically the Constables have been in existence since at least 1481 although their duties have been reduced over the centuries.[6]
Both Douzeniers and Constables can be removed by the Royal Court for failing in their duty.
Parish business
[edit]Amongst the many varied duties:
- Obligation to ensure roadside hedges are trimmed
- Supervise watercourses (douits)
- Administer Parish cemeteries
- Maintain wayside pumps and troughs
- Collecting Parish rates
- Issue dog licence and collect dog tax
- Manage parish boat moorings
Parishes officials also advise the States of Guernsey on matters pertaining to the Parish, such as licensing drinking, entertainment and betting establishments.[6]
Nicknames
[edit]Inhabitants of each of the parishes of Guernsey also have traditional nicknames, although these have generally dropped out of use among the English-speaking population. The traditional nicknames are:[8]
| Parish | Guernésiais | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| St Peter Port | Cllichards | spitters |
| St Sampson's | Rôines | frogs |
| Vale | Hann'taons | cockchafers |
| Castel | Ânes-pur-sàng | pure-blooded-donkeys |
| St Saviour's | Fouormillaons | ants |
| St Pierre du Bois | Etcherbaots | beetles |
| Forest | Bourdons | bumblebees |
| St Martin's | Cravants | ray fish |
| St Andrew's | Les croinchaons | the siftings |
| Torteval | Ânes à pids d'ch'fa | donkeys with horses' hooves |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Douzaines - Guernsey". Archived from the original on 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- ↑ "Guernsey - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. 2024-09-20. Archived from the original on 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ↑ "States of Guernsey: Census". Archived from the original on 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
- ↑ "Guernsey Parishes". Statoids.com. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ↑ Berry, William (1815). The History of the Island of Guernsey.
- 1 2 3 Ogier, Darryl (2012). The Government and Law of Guernsey. States of Guernsey. ISBN 978-0-9549775-1-1.
- ↑ "Jurats and the States of Election". Royal Court of Guernsey. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ↑ Dictiounnaire Angllais-Guernésiais