Priests walk from Winchester to Salisbury to mark end of Channel Islands' 500-year links

The Deans of Guernsey and Jersey walked 24 miles from Winchester to Salisbury to mark the Channel Islands' new affiliation with the Diocese of Salisbury. Credit: Tim Barker / Twitter

The Church of England's most senior priests in the Channel Islands have walked the length of the Clarendon Way to mark the end of a centuries-old relationship with the Diocese of Winchester.

In 2019, it was announced that the islands would come under the Diocese of Salisbury after relations broke down following the suspension and reinstatement of the then-Dean of Jersey.

The Channel Islands had been affiliated with the Diocese of Winchester since 1569.

After tackling the 24-mile trek, Reverends Tim Barker and Mike Keirle - the current Deans of Guernsey and Jersey - have been invited by the Bishop of Salisbury to serve as Non-Residentiary Canons to the College of Canons at Salisbury Cathedral.The service is taking place at Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday 17 November.

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