Parishes of Guernsey


The Bailiwick of Guernsey includes the island of Guernsey and other islands such as Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, and Lihou. Each parish was established, probably in the 11th century, as a religious area, each having its parish church. Administratively each parish is now administered by an elected council known as a Douzaine.

Parishes

The island of Guernsey is divided into ten Parish :
ParishPopulation Area Area Area
Castel10.2003.938
Forest4.1101.587
St Andrew4.5101.741
St Martin7.3402.834
St Peter Port6.6772.578
St Pierre du Bois6.2572.416
St Sampson6.0422.333
St Saviour6.3782.463
Torteval3.1151.203
Vale8.9513.456

Non Administrative ParishPopulation Area Area Area
St Anne, Alderney7.93.1
St Peter, Sark5.452.1

Herm and Jethou form part of the parish of St Peter Port, Lihou falling within the area of St Pierre du Bois.

Administration

Each parish is administered by a Douzaine. Douzeniers are elected for a four-year mandate, for most parishes three Douzeniers being elected by parishioners at a parish meeting in November each year. The Vale elects four each year and St Peter Port five. The senior Douzenier is known as the Doyen. To stand for election the candidate must reside in the Parish.
One or more Douzaine representatives represent their parish at the States of Election when a new Jurat is elected.
Two elected Constables 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.
Both Douzeniers and Constables can be removed by the Royal Court for failing in their duty.

Parish business

Amongst the many varied duties:
Parishes officials also advise the States of Guernsey on matters pertaining to the Parish, such as licensing drinking, entertainment and betting establishments.

Nicknames

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:
ParishGuernésiaisEnglish Translation
St Peter PortCllichards
St Sampson'sRôines
ValeHann'taons
CastelÂnes-pur-sàng
St Saviour'sFouormillaons
St Pierre du BoisEtcherbaots
ForestBourdons
St Martin'sCravants
St Andrew'sLes croinchaons
TortevalÂnes à pids d'ch'fa