Jersey church cafe may close after rates payment

The shop at St Matthew Church makes about £30 per week for the church

The future of a church shop and cafe in Jersey is uncertain as it had to pay parish rates for the first time.

St Matthew's Church in St Peter has never been charged rates for its Coin Varin Cafod cafe and charity shop, but this changed in 2012.

Church administrator Deanna Greene said it had to pay £418 in rates, which meant the shop and cafe were hardly worth keeping open.

Parish Constable John Refault said he would look again at the rates.

The cafe was set up for parishioners to meet after mass with donations sent to the charity Cafod for its overseas work.

The shop is open for six hours a week, earning about £30 a week towards the upkeep of the church and cemetery.

Constable Refault said he would not want the cafe or shop to shut down, and said he would look favourably on an appeal against the church paying rates in 2013.

Parish rates are paid once a year to the parish authority. Jersey is split into 12 distinct local authority groups called parishes.