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Dividing lines
JERSEY'S 12 parishes date back almost a millennium and are a defining characteristic of the Island.
While in England the original parochial system has dissolved into regional organisation and in France it has been lost by the reforms of Napoleon, here it has remained a particular of Island life.
The parish system is thought to have evolved during the five hundred years before the Normans arrived in 933 AD.
The original parishes would have grown around the parish church and natural features such as streams would have marked their boundaries. The five central parishes of St John, St Lawrence, St Mary, St Peter and St Saviour, are thought to date from around 475 AD and all have biblical dedications. Although by the time the Normans arrived there were 12 parishes.
These 12 - Grouville, St Brelade, St Clement, St Helier, St John, St Lawrence, St Martin, St Mary, St Ouen, St Peter, St Saviour and Trinity - have not altered their boundaries since. It is thought that the parishes may have evolved as a result of a system of payment to the church enforced in 779 AD.
Under the tithe system, derived from the Old Testament, it was made compulsory for every tenth sheaf of corn grown by an estate to be given to the church. It then became necessary to set out which estates paid which churches and these divisions may have given rise to the establishment of the original parish boundaries.
These boundaries are now laid down in ordnance survey maps of the Island, but during the 17th century there is evidence that they were kept in check by solemn processions that beat out the dividing line at least once a year.
When the Duke of Normandy incorporated the Channel Islands into the Duchy in 933 he introduced a feudal system into the Island which could also have had an influence over the parish system.
Under this arrangement the Island was divided into fiefs under the ownership of Seigneurs. Each fief was a grant of land on which dues in kind and labour had to be paid by the tenants.
These fiefs did not necessarily observe the parish boundaries although it is likely that the parish assemblies and their elected officials exercised some influence over the powers of their new overlords. A system of parish rule then developed, consisting of both ecclesiastical and civil rule.
Under the parish system each parish has an elected Constable or Connétable. The first known reference to a Constable in the Island dates back to 1462 and the person who takes on this role is often referred to as the father of the parish. He is the parish representative in the States and head of the honorary police in his parish.
He and his elected Centeniers and Vingteniers form the honorary police and would originally have been responsible for up to 100 houses. Those houses would have fallen into divisions within the parish boundaries still called vingtaines. There is now a parish hierarchy leading from Constable's Officer to Constable, and officers of the parish also include procureurs de bien public, or public trustees, and church wardens. All are elected by the parish assembly and are unpaid apart from the rector who is appointed by the Crown.
Parish responsibilities include social welfare, the upkeep of the parish church and rectory, repairs to minor roads, refuse collection, street lighting, parish policing and the issuing of driving licences. The funds needed to run the parish are raised through rates collected each year from the parishioners.
But the relationship between the parishes and the executive is currently under review, and the Island could soon see some changes to the role of the parish in Island life.
A new Conseil des Connétables is to be established to assume responsibility for the Islandwide services such as main roads and litter bin emptying. And Islandwide commercial and domestic services rates are due to be introduced by May 2004.
This article first appeared in the Jersey Evening Post as part of the Pride in Jersey series, marking the Island's 1204-2004 celebrations.
author - Anna Heuston
This article updated: 2004/01/08 12:11:33
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| ......Daily Ditons...... |
Nou n’se casse pon les dents a nioler.
No harm comes from talking nonsense.
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