The Dean of Jersey is the leader of the Church of England

Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

 in Jersey

Jersey

Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...

. He is ex officio a member of the States of Jersey

States of Jersey

The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....

, although since the constitutional reforms of 1948 the Dean may not take part in parliamentary votes. The Dean acts as the chaplain of the States Assembly and may speak in debates on any matter.

The Dean is appointed by the Crown

The Crown

The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...

 by means of letters patent and sworn in to that office by the Royal Court. The Dean also serves as rector of one of the Parishes of Jersey

Parishes of Jersey

The Channel Island of Jersey is divided into twelve administrative districts or parishes. All have access to the sea and are named after the saints to whom their ancient parish churches are dedicated.:* Saint Helier...

 and is instituted and inducted in that office by the Bishop of Winchester

Bishop of Winchester

The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...

. Since 1784 it has been customary (but not obligatory) for the Dean to also be the rector of the Parish Church of St Helier

Parish Church of St Helier

The Parish Church of St Helier is the parish church of the parish of Saint Helier, Jersey. It is one of the twelve 'Ancient Parish Churches' of Jersey, and serves as the Island's civic church and Pro-Cathedral.-Dedication:...

, but this has not always been the case. For example, William Corbet Le Breton, father of Lillie Langtry

Lillie Langtry

Lillie Langtry , usually spelled Lily Langtry when she was in the U.S., born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a British actress born on the island of Jersey...

, was rector of Saint Saviour

Saint Saviour, Jersey

-Notable sites:*Highlands College*De La Salle College*St. Michael's Preparatory School*Hautlieu School*Grainville Cricket Ground*Grainville School*Jersey Evening Post offices and printing works-External links:**...

 at the time he became Dean, though transferred to St Helier in 1875.

Since 1661, the Dean of Jersey has a seal of pointed ellipse type. The arms of the deanery impale those of each individual (or alternatively a monogram).

The Dean of Jersey presides over the ecclesiastical court.

List of Deans

From	To	Dean of Jersey
1620	1645	David Bandinel David Bandinel David Bandinel , was dean of Jersey.Bandinel, the date of whose birth is uncertain, but who is supposed to have been of Italian descent, was appointed to the office of dean of Jersey on its revival by James I, about 1623...
1645	1661	vacant
1661	1671	Philip Le Couteur
1672	1714	Clement Le Couteur
1714	1728	Thomas Le Breton
1729	1775	Francis Payn
1775	1802	Francis Le Breton
1823	1837	Corbet Hue
1838	1844	Francis Jeune Francis Jeune Francis Jeune or François Jeune was Dean of Jersey, 1838–1844, Master of Pembroke College, Oxford and Bishop of Peterborough, 1864-1868....
1850	1883	William Corbet Le Breton
1888	1906	George Orange Balleine
1906	1937	Samuel Falle
1937	1959	Matthew Le Marinel Matthew Le Marinel Matthew Le Marinel was a Jersey clergyman, who became Dean of Jersey.-Life:Le Marinel was educated at Victoria College, Jersey, Elizabeth College, Guernsey and Jesus College, Oxford before training for ordination as an Anglican priest at St Stephen's House, Oxford...
1959	1971	Alan Stanley Giles
1971	1985	Thomas Goss
1985	1993	Basil O'Ferrall
1993	2005	John Seaford
2005	date	Robert Frederick Key