Research
Religion in Jersey
Executive Summary
This paper examines the historical development of religion in Jersey, outlines contemporary demographic trends, and assesses economic impact, constitutional arrangements, and community engagement.
The historical trajectory of religion in Jersey is characterised by a transition from pre-Christian ritual activity to a complex landscape of Christian denominations and, more recently, a significant shift towards secularisation and religious pluralism. Key historical milestones include the Island's Calvinist influence during the Reformation, the formalisation of Anglicanism in the 17th century, and the growth of Methodism in the 18th and 19th centuries. The German Occupation introduced a period of state-enforced antisemitic regulation, while the post-war era saw renewed religious freedom and the establishment of non-Christian religious institutions.
Contemporary data from the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS) reveal a clear trend of increasing secularisation, with religious identification declining from 54% in 2015 to 39% in 2023. While Christianity remains the dominant religion among those who identify as religious, non-Christian religious identification has risen from 3% to 7% over the past decade. Reported religious discrimination remains consistently low, yet there is majority public support (51%) for explicitly including religion as a protected characteristic in Jersey law.
The paper identifies several key policy areas for consideration:
- Data Collection: The need for standardised and detailed religious data collection to inform evidence-based policymaking.
- Constitutional Review: Reassessing the constitutional role of religious representatives, such as the Dean of Jersey, to ensure broader representation of the Island's diverse population.
- Legal Reform: Amending the Discrimination (Jersey) Law 2013 to include religion as a protected characteristic, closing the gap with human rights protections.
- Education and Engagement: Reviewing the religious education curriculum for inclusivity and enhancing formal engagement with minority faith and non-religious groups.
Introduction
The role of religion in Jersey is undergoing a profound transformation. Historically, religious institutions have been central to the Island's governance, community identity, and legal framework. From the early medieval parish system to the constitutional role of the Dean in the States Assembly, Jersey's heritage is deeply intertwined with its religious history. However, contemporary demographic trends indicate a significant shift towards a secular-majority society, alongside increasing religious diversity.
This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of religion in Jersey, beginning with its historical development from pre-Christian foundations to the modern era. It then examines contemporary data from the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS) to understand current patterns of religious identification, participation, and public attitudes. Finally, the paper explores the legal and policy implications of these trends, identifying key areas where Jersey's institutional and legal frameworks may need to evolve to reflect its contemporary social reality.
The analysis demonstrates that while formal religious affiliation is declining, the institutional and cultural legacy of religion remains highly relevant to policy discussions. Navigating the intersection of Jersey's Christian heritage and its diverse, secular-majority population is essential for ensuring an equitable and inclusive future for the Island.
Historical Trajectory of Religion in Jersey
Pre-Christian and Medieval Foundations
Archaeological evidence indicates organised ritual activity in Jersey dating back to the Neolithic period. Passage graves and dolmens, including the prominent site at La Hougue Bie (c. 4000–3500 BC), demonstrate long-standing ceremonial practices predating Christianity. [1] These sites reflect alignment with solar events and sustained communal use.
Following the Christianisation of the region, Jersey fell under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Coutances in Normandy. [2] This arrangement persisted well beyond the Island’s political attachment to England in the 13th century, illustrating the semi-autonomous and transnational character of Jersey’s early religious administration. Many parish churches, with origins in the 11th and 12th centuries, became focal points of local governance and community identity. [3]
The Reformation and the Calvinist Influence
The Reformation introduced substantial upheaval. Due to its linguistic and cultural ties to France, Jersey adopted a distinctly Calvinist form of Protestantism. [4] The arrival of Huguenot refugees fleeing persecution during the French Wars of Religion (1562-1598) strengthened the Island’s Calvinist character. [5] In this same era the Island followed the rest of Europe in the widespread witch trials. Between the 1560s and the 1660s, 65 accusations were brought before the Royal Court, of which 33 ended in execution, and a further eight in banishment. Around 88% of those accused were women. [6]
Anglican Establishment and Methodist Expansion
In the early 17th century, the Crown formalised Anglicanism in Jersey through the appointment of David Bandinel as Dean in 1620. [7] This shift from Presbyterian to episcopal governance was resisted locally but ultimately institutionalised. [8] The office of Dean of Jersey has remained a constitutional feature, now functioning as a non-voting, non-speaking seat in the States Assembly. [9] In the 18th and 19th centuries, Methodism gained influence. John Wesley’s visit in 1787 catalysed the growth of Methodist congregations. [10]
Occupation-Era Persecution and Post-War Developments
The German Occupation (1940–1945) introduced a period of state enforced antisemitic regulation. The occupying authorities issued a series of anti-Jewish orders requiring the registration of Jewish people, the closure of Jewish-owned businesses, and restrictions on residence and movement. [11] The surviving documentation does not allow us to determine the exact number of Jewish residents deported from the Island to concentration camps, prisons or civilian internment camps, but across Jersey and Guernsey it is estimated that around 30 Jewish civilians were affected by these laws. [12]
Post-war reconstruction saw renewed religious freedom and the re-establishment of Jewish communal life, with the reconsecration of the island’s synagogue in 1972. [13] The second half of the 20th century saw accelerating secularisation and increased migration, which contributed to the establishment of non-Christian religious communities and institutions, including the mosque of the Jersey Muslim Community Centre. [14] The 2015 Jersey Annual Social Survey asked respondents to specify the religion in which they participated. Among the 3% of respondents who identified as non-Christian, the religions reported were Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh. [15]
Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS)
The Jersey Opinion and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS) provides intermittent but valuable evidence on religion in Jersey over the past decade. Because religion-related questions vary from year to year, long-term trend analysis is limited. However, when grouped thematically, the data reveal consistent patterns in religious participation, perceived discrimination, religious identification, and public attitudes toward legal protection.
Increasing Secularisation
Religious identification in Jersey has been declining. In 2023, 39% of adults in Jersey regarded themselves as having a religion, [16] down from 47% in 2018 [17] and 54% in 2015. [18] With a 15 percentage point drop in religious identification between 2015 and 2023, the pace of secularisation in Jersey is broadly comparable to trends in the UK, where non-religious identification rose from 14.8% in 2001, to 25.2% in 2011, and 37.2% by 2021. [19]
Figure 9.7 proportion of adults of regard themselves as having a religion by age. JOLS 2023 page 79.
Demographics
In the 2023 report, slightly more women than men identified as religious, at 41% compared to 37%. [20] Age remains a key factor: the likelihood of identifying as religious increases with age, though even among adults aged 35 and over, religious identification has been slowly declining since 2015. [21]
Among those who reported having a religion, Christianity overwhelmingly dominated, with 93% identifying as Christian or a Christian denomination. [22] In the 2015 report, 97% of respondents identified as Christian, showing that non-Christian religious identification has risen from 3% to 7% in the past decade. [23]
The 2015 report provides detailed data on Christian denominations by birthplace. Overall, Catholics and Anglicans were roughly equal, but striking differences appear by origin. Respondents from Madeira, Portugal, and Poland were entirely Roman Catholic, while those from Jersey and elsewhere in the British Isles or Republic of Ireland were mostly Anglican. Among other Europeans, a majority identified with denominations outside Catholicism or Anglicanism, and respondents from the rest of the world were predominantly Roman Catholic.
Figure 1.3 from the 2015 JOLS report page 8
Volunteering
For JOLS statistics on volunteering, see: Religious Organisations, Charities, and Community Impact, below.
Discrimination
Reported discrimination based on religion or beliefs remains consistently low. Across surveys using comparable questions, between 1% and 3% of adults reported having been discriminated against. In 2016 [24] and 2017, [25] 2% said they had experienced prejudice or discrimination due to religion. In 2018, the figure was 1%, but when asked if they had witnessed discrimination against others in the past year, 4% said that they had. [26] 2019, [27] 2022, [28] and 2025 [29] each recorded a figure of 3%.
Data taken from Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Reports 2015-2025
Only the 2016 and 2018 surveys asked about witnessing discrimination. In both reports, the proportion was higher than direct experience, indicating that awareness of religious prejudice exceeds personal exposure. [30] Despite changes in question wording, the overall picture is one of low and stable reported discrimination.
Legal Protection of Religion
Public attitudes toward the legal protection of religion suggest majority support. In 2023, when asked whether religion should become a protected characteristic in Jersey law, 51% of adults agreed, while 14% disagreed, and 35% neither agreed nor disagreed. [31] Support varied by gender, with 55% of women agreeing compared to 46% of men. [32] Religious identity was a stronger predictor: 63% of those who regarded themselves as having a religion supported legal protection, compared to 39% of those without a religion. [33] This indicates that support for religious legal protection extends beyond the religious population, though it is significantly stronger among those who identify as religious.
Conclusion
Taken together, the JOLS data suggest a society in which formal religious affiliation and participation are gradually declining, particularly among younger adults, while religious institutions continue to play a limited but stable role in volunteering. Experiences of religious discrimination are uncommon, yet public support for legal protection of religion remains relatively strong. This combination points to a shift in religion’s role in Jersey from a widespread identity marker toward a more privatised belief system that nonetheless retains social and legal significance.
The Legal Framework: Freedom, Discrimination, and Tradition
Jersey’s legal framework balances the historical role of the established church with the modern requirements of human rights and non-discrimination.
Human Rights and Freedom of Religion
The Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 [34] gives effect to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). [35] Article 9 of the ECHR, incorporated into Jersey law, guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to manifest one's religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice, and observance. [36] This is the primary legal guarantee of religious freedom on the Island.
Discrimination
The Discrimination (Jersey) Law 2013 [37] prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, and disability. The law includes exemptions allowing religious organisations to give preference—or require—that certain roles essential to religious worship or practice be filled only by individuals of a particular faith. These exemptions are built into the 2013 Law to balance anti-discrimination protections with the autonomy of religious institutions in staffing key religious roles.
Religion is not a protected characteristic under the main provisions, as the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 [38] serves as a broad backstop. This creates practical gaps in everyday life, leaving individuals without clear legal protection against discrimination based on religion. For example, they may face unfair treatment in employment, housing, or access to services, or encounter subtle bias in education, healthcare, financial services, and social or recreational organisations. Because the Human Rights Law provides only a broad, principle-based protection, it is less effective for addressing routine or informal disputes, making it difficult for affected individuals to challenge disadvantages in practice. Public support for reform reflects recognition of these gaps—51% of respondents in the 2023 JOLS report favoured explicitly including religion as a protected characteristic. [39]
Constitutional and Historical Religious Legacies
The Dean of Jersey holds an ex officio non-voting seat in the States Assembly. [40] This constitutional arrangement reflects the Christian heritage of Jersey, but today it is a notable feature in a jurisdiction where the majority of the population is non-religious.
Other areas where religion interacts with policy include:
1) Marriage and Civil Status: The Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001 governs the solemnisation of marriages, including those conducted by religious bodies. [41] While civil ceremonies have become increasingly popular, religious marriages remain an option, with specific legal provisions governing their conduct. The legal framework also addresses the solemnisation of same-sex marriages in places of public religious worship where the governing authority has consented. The involvement of religious officials in marriage ceremonies is regulated, with a list of registered religious officials maintained by the Superintendent Registrar.
2) Sunday trading regulations: The Shops (Regulation of Opening and Deliveries) (Jersey) Law 2010 prohibits shops from opening on Sundays, Good Friday, Christmas Day, 26th December, and Liberation Day, unless an exemption or a permit from the Connétable of the parish is obtained. [42] This law directly reflects the historical observance of the Christian Sabbath.
3) The Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974, while primarily regulating the sale of alcohol, sets out specific opening hours and categories of licences, with applications considered by the Licensing Assembly, which includes the Bailiff and Jurats. [43] The historical roots of such regulations often stem from religious concerns regarding public order and morality, particularly on Sundays and religious holidays. [44]
While these laws have been progressively liberalised, their historical structure serves as a tangible link between the Island's legal framework and its religious past.
Religious Organisations, Charities, and Community Impact
Religious charities are registered and regulated under the Charities (Jersey) Law 2014, which recognises ‘the advancement of religion,’ and ‘promoting religious or racial harmony,’ as charitable purposes. [45] Likewise, the Non-Profit Organisations (Jersey) Law 2008 recognises organisations established for religious purposes, providing for their registration and monitoring. [46]
Religious volunteering has remained a minority but stable form of civic engagement. Where measured, over the past decade, between 6% and 8% of adults reported volunteering in religion or church-related activities. In 2017, 6% had volunteered in this area, [47] rising to 8% in both 2019 [48] and 2024[49], with a similar figure of 7% reported in 2022. [50]
Age differences are pronounced: in 2022, only 2% of adults aged 16–34 volunteered in religion or church, compared with 13% of those aged 65 and over. [51] Gender differences also emerge in later data, with the 2025 survey showing that 8% of women volunteered in religion compared to 4% of men. [52] These figures suggest that religious volunteering is sustained largely by older adults and women, rather than reflecting broad participation across the population.
Statistics taken from the JOLS reports 2017-2025.
Percentage of adults who reported volunteering in religion or church-related activities.
In 2024, the religious charity Faith in Action conducted an audit suggesting that Jersey faith groups contribute over £2 million annually to Island life and the local economy through their activities. [53] Specific economic data on the full impact of religious charities in Jersey requires further dedicated research.
Economics and Institutional Support
The maintenance and upkeep of parish churches are traditionally supported through the parish rates. The Rates (Jersey) Law 2005 outlines the framework for parish rates, which are approved by the Parish Assembly and contribute to various parish expenses, including the maintenance and repair of church buildings. [54] The churches themselves are exempt from paying rates. [55]
The role of the Surveillant Trésor (Churchwarden responsible for the treasury) is specifically to oversee the financial aspects of church maintenance and repair. [56] From 2013 to 2023, only two churches received public grants. In 2020, Ebenezer Church received a fiscal stimulus grant of £11,000, while Jersey Baptist Church received £7,000 in the same year and a further £158,000 in 2021. [57]
Parish rates and expenditure on churches. [58]
A portion of parish rates is allocated to expenditure on the parish church and rectory. This funding is technically referred to as the Trésor—the accumulated funds, property, and historically the financial records administered for the upkeep of church buildings and rectories.
The table below, drawn from parish accounts, sets out the expenditure incurred by each parish on its church and rectory. For context, it also presents total parish rate income and calculates church and rectory expenditure as a percentage of overall rates.
It should be noted that parish accounting practices are not uniform. As accounts are prepared using differing formats and classifications, the figures presented may not be strictly comparable across parishes.
Expenditure on church and rectory and parish rates 2024/25
The data show that, on average, 3.3% of parish rates are allocated to the maintenance of the church and rectory. However, this aggregate figure conceals marked variation between parishes. In St Helier and St Mary, expenditure amounts to less than 1% of total rates, whereas in St Ouen it reaches 9.6% and in St Brelade 7.2%. The disparity reflects differences in property portfolios, maintenance obligations, and accounting presentation.
The published accounts for St Ouen make no specific reference to the Trésor. By contrast, St Brelade provides additional explanatory detail:
“The Parish has a legal obligation [59] to maintain the fabric of the Church Estate comprising the Church, the Fisherman’s Chapel, the Rectory, the Rectory Cottages, the church yard and various other property. This year’s costs of £160,464 were broadly in line with estimates and included repair of the paths in the churchyard. The Tresor Account is administered by the Rectorat comprising the Connètable, the Rector, the two Procureurs du Bien Public and the two Church Wardens.”
Similarly, the accounts for St Saviour set out the purpose of the Trésor in the following terms:
“The Trésor Account was established to fund the upkeep, maintenance, and operational needs of the church, churchyard, Rectory, and other properties under the Rectorate. Expenditure includes building repairs, utilities, grounds maintenance, and related services necessary to ensure the functionality and safety of parish assets, in accordance with the Canons of the Church of England in Jersey Law.”
Taken together, these statements indicate that, while presentation varies, the underlying rationale for expenditure is framed as a legal and canonical obligation to preserve ecclesiastical property and ensure its safe and functional use.
Religion and Education
Provided (state) Education
The role of religion in Jersey’s state education system is governed by the Education (Jersey) Law 1999. [60] Parents of children of compulsory school age are obliged to ensure regular attendance at school, but are explicitly permitted to set aside days for religious observance. [61]
All students in provided (state) schools are required to receive religious education according to a syllabus approved by the Minister for Education, following consultation with the Religious Education Advisory Council. [62] The Council is composed of six representatives from the principal religious traditions in Jersey, six teachers, and six persons nominated by the Minister. [63] Its role is to advise the Minister on religious education and worship in schools, and to prepare and review the syllabus. [64]
Students in state schools must also attend an act of worship at least one school day per week during term. [65] The worship must be broadly Christian in nature but not specific to any particular denomination. [66] Parents retain the right to withdraw their child from religious education and acts of worship, in which case the pupil is supervised by the headteacher. [67]
Where a sufficient number of pupils of a particular religious denomination attend a school, and parents or the community can provide instruction without public funding or detriment to other pupils, the Minister must make premises available for alternative religious education. [68]
Finally, teachers are protected from religious discrimination in their employment: they cannot be penalised for their beliefs or for attending—or not attending—religious worship, [69] and are only required to teach religious education if specifically hired to do so. [70]
Private Faith Schools
Jersey has four private faith schools. Three of these are Catholic (Beaulieu Convent School, De La Salle College, and FCJ Primary School), and one is Anglican (St. Michael’s Preparatory School). Between 2013-2023, all four private faith schools received grant funding from the Government of Jersey, in line with general government policing of grant funding private schools. It is at the discretion of each school how the money is distributed, but they are required to provide their audited accounts each year. [71]
Statistics taken from “Grants” in the Annual Report and Account for the States of Jersey 2013-2023
Policy Options for Consideration
The preceding analysis of Jersey's religious landscape, encompassing its historical legacies and contemporary demographic shifts, necessitates a proactive approach to policy development. Several key areas warrant consideration to ensure that governance structures and legal frameworks are both reflective of the Island's diverse population and responsive to evolving societal needs.
1. Enhancing Data Collection and Research on Religion
Accurate and comprehensive data are fundamental for evidence-based policymaking. Current religious data collection in Jersey exhibits inconsistencies, particularly in the granularity of information regarding non-Christian beliefs. To address this, the following measures are recommended:
- Standardised Data Collection: Implement consistent terminology and categories for religious affiliation across all government and official surveys, such as the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS). This would facilitate longitudinal analysis and provide a clearer picture of religious trends.
- Detailed Demographic Information: Expand data collection to include more detailed demographic information related to religious groups, especially those outside the traditional Christian majority. This is crucial given the observed growth in non-Christian beliefs and would ensure that policy and funding allocations adequately serve these segments of the population.
- Economic Impact Assessment: Conduct dedicated economic research to quantify the social and economic contributions of religious charities and organisations in Jersey. Such research would provide a robust evidence base for understanding their economic and cultural impact and informing decisions regarding governmental support.
2. Constitutional and Governance Review
The constitutional role of religious representatives, particularly the Dean of Jersey, is a direct legacy of the Island's historical intertwining of church and state. In light of Jersey's increasingly secular and diverse population, a review of these arrangements is pertinent:
- Alignment with Demographic Reality: Reassess the Dean’s ex‑officio, non‑voting, non‑speaking seat in the States Assembly to ensure its continued relevance and appropriateness within a contemporary, pluralistic society. This review should consider mechanisms for broader representation of diverse belief systems in both representational as well as advisory capacities. For example, the establishment of a multi‑faith advisory council could be explored.
This body could provide broader religious and non‑religious perspectives to the States Assembly.
3. Discrimination Law Reform
The Discrimination (Jersey) Law 2013 currently protects against discrimination on various grounds, but notably omits religion as an explicitly protected characteristic in its primary provisions. This creates a disparity between the protections afforded by the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 (which incorporates Article 9 ECHR) and the more specific anti-discrimination legislation. There is a majority public support for law reform. [72] It is recommended that:
- Amendment to Discrimination Law: The Discrimination (Jersey) Law 2013 could be amended to explicitly include religion or belief as a protected characteristic. This would close the existing legislative gap, providing clearer and more direct legal recourse for individuals experiencing discrimination based on their religious or non-religious beliefs in areas such as employment, housing, and public services.
4. Education Policy and Inclusivity
The current education policy warrants re-evaluation:
- Review the role of religion under the Education (Jersey) Law 1999, particularly whether the requirement for weekly broadly Christian, non-denominational worship in provided (state) schools reflects the Island’s contemporary religious demographics and values.
- Survey students of non-Christian beliefs on their experiences of religious education provision, examining whether they feel adequately accommodated, whether alternative arrangements meet their needs, and whether the default positioning of Christianity in school policy causes them to feel excluded or singled out.
[1] Patton, Mark. “La Hougue-Bie à Jersey: transformation d’un monument du Néolithique à nos jours.” Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 93, no. 3 (1996): 298–300.; Patton, Mark. “New Light on Atlantic Seaboard Passage-Grave Chronology: Radiocarbon Dates from La Hougue Bie (Jersey).” Antiquity 69, no. 264 (1995): 582–86. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00081977. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/abs/new-light-on-atlantic-seaboard-passagegrave-chronology-radiocarbon-dates-from-la-hougue-bie-jersey/6B7579EECD7BD63EE6E385BE516848AB ; Jersey Heritage “La Hougue Bie” (https://www.jerseyheritage.org/history/the-discovery-of-la-hougue-bie/); for the history of jersey between ancient and early modern periods see: “The Early Medieval Period” (https://www.jerseyheritage.org/history/jersey-in-the-early-medieval-period/); Policy Centre Jersey (policy.je) Jersey’s Heritage
[2] THORNTON T. Jersey, Guernsey and English Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under Henry VII. The Journal of Ecclesiastical History. 2024;75(3):444-456. doi:10.1017/S0022046923001331; G.E. Lee (ed.), “Documents concerning the transfer of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Channel Islands from the see of Coutances to those of Salisbury and Winchester, with comments thereon” Annual Bulletin of the Société Jersiaise (1904), pp. 251–265 (https://collections.societe.je/archive/annual-bulletin/volume-5/annual-bulletin-1904/1904-article-4-documents-concerning-the-transfer-of-the-ecclesiastical-jurisdiction-over-the-c-i-from-the-see-of-coutances-to-those-of-salisbury-and-winchester/1943618?q=%E2%80%9Cdocuments%20concerning%20the%20transfer%20of%20the%20ecclesiastical%20jurisdiction%20over%20the%20channel%20islands%20from%20the%20see%20of%20coutances%20to%20those%20of%20salisbury%20and%20winchester,%20with%20comments%20thereon%E2%80%9D); See also Gregory White “Changes In Jersey Ecclesiastical Law”. Jersey Law, last updated 04 th July 2024; Jersey Deanery “About: History” https://www.jerseydeanery.je/about; Policy Centre Jersey (policy.je) Jersey’s Heritage
[3] Policy Centre Jersey (policy.je) Jersey’s Heritage
[4] Policy Centre Jersey (policy.je) Jersey’s History
[5] Powell, Colin (1988). ‘The part played by immigrants in Jersey’s economic development over the centuries’, Société Jersiaise Bulletin, pp 531-542.
[6] Witch trials in Jersey: https://www.jerseyheritage.org/history/witch-trials-in-jersey/
[7] Maghenzani, S. (2023). The Early Years of David Bandinel, the Italian Huguenot First 'Anglican' Dean of Jersey (1620--1645).Notes and Queries, 70(3), 209-212; Gregory White “Changes In Jersey Ecclesiastical Law”. Jersey Law, last updated 04 th July 2024
[8]Peter Lawrence Abraham ‘For a decent order in the Church’: Ceremony, Culture and Conformity in an Early Stuart Diocese, with particular reference to the See of Winchester. University of Hull (PhD Thesis) August 2002. p. 334; cf. Eagleston, A.J., 'Guernsey under Sir Thomas Leighton (1570-1610)', Transactions of the Societe Guernesiaise, vol.xiii (1937).
[9] States of Jersey Law 2005 (Article 2.1)
[10] Richard Douglas Moore (1952), methodism in the Channel Islands, Epworth Press.,
[11] Sanders, Paul (2005), "The British Channel Islands under German Occupation 1940–1945", Jersey Heritage Trust / Société Jersiaise, ISBN 0953885836, Bunting, Madeleine (1995), The Model Occupation: The Channel Islands under German Rule, 1940–1945, London: Harper Collins, ISBN 0-00-255242-6, Cruickshank, Charles G. (1975), The German Occupation of the Channel Islands, The Guernsey Press, ISBN 0-902550-02-0
[12] Cohen, F. 2000. The Jews in the Channel Islands during the German Occupation, 1940-1945. Jersey: Jersey Heritage Trust; History of the Jersey Jewish Community https://jjc.org.je/history/; see also, https://www.frankfallaarchive.org/ and https://www.jerseyheritage.org/history/the-german-occupation/
[13] History of the Jersey Jewish Community https://jjc.org.je/history/
[14] Jersey Islamic Trust https://jerseyislamictrust.weebly.com/
[15] Jersey Annual Social Survey 2015 pg.8
[16] JOLS 2023 pg. 79 Figure 9.6
[17] JOLS 2018 pg.74 Figure 11.3
[18] Jersey Annual Social Survey 2015 pg. 5 and 8 Figure 1.2
[19] (Office for National Statistics 2021) Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 29 November 2022, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Religion,, England and Wales: Census 2021
[20] JOLS 2023 pg.79 Figure 9.6; in 2015 58% of women dn 50% of men said that they had a religion. See page 8 Figure 1.2
[21] JOLS 2023 pg.79 Figure 9.7
[22] JOLS 2023 pg. 79 Figure 9.6
[23] Jersey Annual Social Survey 2015 pg 8 Figure 1.3
[24] JOLS 2016 pg. 32 Table 4.3
[25] JOLS 2017 pg. 35 Figure 4.12
[26] JOLS 2018 pg. 60 Table 8.2
[27] JOLS 2019 pg. 42 Figure 6.14
[28] JOLS 2022 pg. 60 Table 8.1
[29] JOLS 2025 pg. 18 Figure 26
[30] JOLS 2016 pg. 32 Table 4.3; JOLS 2018 pg. 60 Table 8.2
[31] JOLS 2023 pg. 78 Figure 9.4
[32] JOLS 2023 pg. 78 Figure 9.4
[33] JOLS 2023 pg. 78 Figure 9.5
[34] Jersey Law. Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000.
[35] European Convention on Human Rights, Article 9, 4 November 1950, ETS 5.
[36] “1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance. 2. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.” European Convention on Human Rights, Article 9, 4 November 1950, ETS 5.
[37] Jersey Law. Discrimination (Jersey) Law 2013.
[38] Jersey Law. Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000.
[39] JOLS 2023 pg. 78 Figure 9.4
[40] States of Jersey Law 2005 (Article 2.1); Jersey Deanery: https://www.jerseydeanery.je/about
[41] Jersey Law. Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001; See also Marriage and Civil partnerships (https://www.gov.je/Government/Departments/JusticeHomeAffairs/OfficeSuperintendentRegistrar/MarriageCivilPartnerships/Pages/home.aspx)
[42] Jersey Law. Shops (Regulation of opening and deliveries) (Jersey) Law 2010
[43] Jersey Law. Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974.
[44] Jersey Law. Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974.
[45] Jersey Law. Charities (Jersey) Law 2014. Article 6c.
[46] Non-Profit Organisations (Jersey) Law 2008. Article 1.1.a
[47] JOLS 2017 pg.33 Figure 4.8
[48] JOLS 2019 pg. 41 Figure 6.12
[49] JOLS 2024 pg. 16 Figure 7.8
[50] JOLS 2022 pg. 27 Figure 4.6
[51] JOLS 2022 pg. 27 Figure 4.6
[52] JOLS 2025 pg. 16 Figure 21
[53] Note: The £2 million figure cited in the Bailiwick Express article (11 July 2018) is based on an anecdotal source; the author’s request for the original audit from Faith In Action went unanswered, so the amount should be treated with caution.
[54] Jersey Law. Rates (Jersey) Law 2005.https://www.jerseylaw.je/laws/current/l_33_2005; Comite.je. "About Rates." https://comite.je/about-rates/
[55] Jersey Law. Rates (Jersey) Law 2005. https://www.jerseylaw.je/laws/current/l_33_2005 (Article 17.2.a.c and 18.2.a)
[56] Jersey Deanery. "Parish Administration." https://jerseydeanery.je/parish-administration
[57] See Annual Report and Account for the States of Jersey 2022 and 2021
[58] Parish accounts 2025/25
[59] All of the following legal examples are taken from Jersey Law: Loi (1804) au sujet des Assemblées paroissiales (Ch. 16.100) Art. 8,makes “la réparation de l’Église, du Cimetière, et de la Maison Presbytériale” part of parish ecclesiastical business (“the repair of the Church, the Cemetery, and the Presbytery”). Likewise, Article 5 of the customary Code of 1771 provides that “Les revenus des Trésors des Eglises… seront appliqués… aux réparations, entretien et besoins des Eglises et Maisons Presbytériales” , (“the income from the Trésors of the Churches shall be applied… to the repairs, maintenance and needs of the Churches and the Rectories”). Finally, Canon D1.6 of the Church of England in Jersey (L.33/2022) requires that “the churchwardens of the Ancient Parishes shall apply the revenues of the ‘Trésor’ of the Church to the repairs, maintenance and needs of the Church, Churchyard and rectory” . Sources: Loi (1804) Art. 8; Code of 1771 Art. 5; Canons of the Church of England in Jersey (L.33/2022) Canon D1.6.
[60] Education (Jersey) Law 1999
[61] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 12c)
[62] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 18)
[63] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 60.3)
[64] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 60.2)
[65] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 19.1)
[66] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 19.2)
[67] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 20)
[68] Education (Jersey) Law 1999(Article 21)
[69] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 22.2)
[70] Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (Article 22.3)
[71] “Government Grants for Private Schools.” FOI (Freedom of Information) Request published by the States of Jersey 17 June 2020
[72] JOLS 2023 Pg. 78 fig 9.4
