A new job, a new life, and two new congregations in the process … Here is the story of how New Apostolic Christians from South Africa found a new spiritual home in the Channel Islands.
First there was a job offer, then they had a look at the map of Europe: Dean and Tania Hayes from South Africa had never heard of the small island of Guernsey in the English Channel. Guernsey, a crown dependency, is one of four main islands in the English Channel. Approximately 166,000 people live in the Channel Islands, including roughly 100,000 on Jersey and 60,000 on Guernsey.
Unusual dimensions
A New Apostolic congregation was founded on Jersey back in 2005. Members came and went and after a few years the congregation ceased to function. It was a big change for Dean and Tania when they arrived on Guernsey in February 2023. In South Africa, congregations have an average of 400 members. On Guernsey, Tania and Dean were initially the only New Apostolic Christians.
Nevertheless, they quickly fell in love with this quaint and beautiful island lying south of England’s coast. “Life here is much calmer and more peaceful than in big cities. The lack of commotion, along with the island’s natural beauty and stunning views, and the friendly people creates a serene environment,” enthuses Tania. Everything could have been perfect if something essential had not been missing: a New Apostolic congregation where they could feel at home.
Where two or three gather …
Evangelist Craig Esterhuizen and his wife Gail live in the south of England. In May 2023, they were on a holiday cruise that made an unexpected call in Guernsey due to bad weather—an opportunity to meet with the New Apostolic South African couple. In the town gardens of St Peter Port, Guernsey’s capital, the four celebrated Holy Communion together. Dean and Tania still remember this fondly today.
A New Apostolic family of four—Ernst, Lynn, Danielle, and Joshua Cookson—from South Africa moved to Guernsey in September 2023. Back in South Africa they had been used to youth services with over a thousand participants, but now Danielle was the only confirmand to stand in front of the altar on 26 June 2024.
Grateful for the fellowship
“As young New Apostolic Christians, my brother and I feel quite lonely on the island,” says Danielle. “Youth activities mainly take place in England, and we generally have to travel to attend these activities.” Danielle is optimistic, though, “I know that God has placed our families on this island for a reason, and that is to spread the message and the love of Jesus Christ.”
One step in this direction was the formal start of the Guernsey congregation on the day of Danielle’s confirmation. In the same service, Dean Hayes was confirmed as a Priest for the Channel Islands. The congregation, joined by visiting family members, formed an impromptu choir and gave a small post-service concert, which a passerby heard. The woman entered the conference room, listened, and was moved to tears by the hymns. “Although our church life is so different from what we are used to in the large congregations we all come from, we are happy and thankful for the community we have here,” says Tania.
On neighbouring Jersey
Around the same time, something very similar happened around 40 kilometres away. Three New Apostolic Christians from South Africa had moved to the island of Jersey. On 11 October 2024, Evangelist Craig Esterhuizen and Priest Dean Hayes came to Jersey to conduct a divine service, the first in a long time. One sister could not be there because she had just given birth to a baby boy. As small as the congregation is, there is a choir and an instrumental ensemble with capable choristers and musicians. On 5 January 2024, Apostle David Heynes travelled to Jersey to conduct a divine service and confirm Ernst Cookson from neighbouring Guernsey as Priest.
The two Priests from Guernsey have since been responsible for both congregations, while Craig Esterhuizen, who regularly comes to Jersey and Guernsey by plane or ferry, is the rector for both congregations. Several ministers from Great Britain support him in his pastoral work.
On Guernsey, services are held every Sunday at 10 a.m. except on the last Sunday of the month at the Les Cotils Hotel in St Peter Port. On Jersey, services are held on the last Sunday of every month at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall Parish of St Helier.