His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of The Venerable Matthew Trick as the next Dean of Guernsey. Matthew currently serves as Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire and Residentiary Canon of Derby Cathedral. 

As Dean, Matthew will become the senior Anglican priest serving the Bailiwick of Guernsey, including Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark. Alongside his responsibilities as Dean, he will also be licensed as Vicar of Sark, serving the Anglican community on the island and maintaining a regular pastoral and liturgical presence there.

His appointment comes at an important moment for the Deanery as churches continue to serve their communities while engaging with opportunities around mission, safeguarding, governance, children and young people, and the Church's contribution to public life. The Deanery of Guernsey is attached to the Diocese of Salisbury, with the Bishop of Salisbury holding pastoral responsibility and episcopal care for the island.

Matthew is already familiar with the Bailiwick, having served as a Locum Priest on Alderney in both 2023 and 2024 and regularly visited the islands. He and his family have developed a strong affection for the Bailiwick and look forward to becoming part of island life. 

His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Cripwell KBE CB, said:

“I am looking forward to welcoming Matthew to the Bailiwick. Having previously spent time in Alderney he already knows what a special place the Bailiwick is and how important the role of the Church is within it.”

Commenting on the news of the appointment, the Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Acting Bishop of Salisbury, said:

“It is a joy to welcome Matthew and I look forward to working with him. In recent years we have cultivated an increasingly rich partnership between the Diocese of Salisbury and the Dean of Guernsey, as a valued member of our leadership team and Bishop’s Council. I will be delighted to licence Matthew at the end of September and am eager for him to share his gifts with us. We hold Matthew and his family in our prayers at this time.”

Matthew has served as Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire since 2022 and has extensive experience of supporting clergy and congregations, strengthening safeguarding culture, leading organisational change and helping churches develop sustainable patterns of mission and ministry. His ministry has spanned parish, cathedral, diocesan and national Church settings. 

Before moving to Derby, he served in parish and deanery roles in the dioceses of Winchester and Ely and in the Church in Wales. His ministry has included church growth and revitalisation, ecumenical leadership, youth and families work, community partnerships and the delivery of major community-focused projects. 

The Right Reverend Jackie Searle, Acting Bishop of Derby, said:

“I am delighted by Matthew’s appointment to be the next Dean of Guernsey: I am pleased for him, for the Guernsey Deanery and for the clergy and lay leaders of the area he will serve, and for the partners with whom he will work beyond the Church.

“I have worked with Matthew only for a short time, but he has been a valued colleague in ministry and an outstanding Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire. He will be deeply missed in the Diocese and by colleagues at Church House in Derby, but we know that he will bring the same dedication and commitment to this new role with faithfulness and grace. I pray that he and his family will know God’s richest blessing as they move into this new chapter together.”

Adding to Bishop Jackie's comments, The Very Reverend Dr Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, said:

“On behalf of the Derby Cathedral community, I offer my congratulations to Matthew on his appointment as Dean of Guernsey. As a Residentiary Canon, Matthew has served people of the Cathedral with distinction over the past two years. Matthew's membership of Chapter has made a significant impact in helping the Cathedral serve the diocese of Derby effectively. As our growing younger lead Matthew has inspired our children's and young people's team and brought committed leadership that has enabled this work to grow in both depth and numbers.

 

 “We shall miss the whole family who have worshipped regularly with us during their time in Derby: their daughter has been one of our choristers and their son a member of our Sunday School. We send our prayers and good wishes not only to the family but also to the Guernsey Church as you welcome Matthew and begin a new chapter in your life together.”

 

Alongside his church responsibilities, Matthew brings significant governance and charity-sector experience. He is Vice-Chair and Treasurer of YMCA Derbyshire, where he has helped provide strategic leadership for an organisation working across housing, education and community services. He has been a strong advocate for partnership approaches to tackling housing need, child poverty and social inequality. 

Gillian Sewell, Chief Executive of YMCA Derbyshire, said:

"Matthew has been a passionate advocate for collaborative approaches to addressing the housing crisis for young people, child poverty and social inequality, recognising that meaningful change can only be achieved through partnership and shared leadership.

He combines practical leadership experience with a strong academic interest in public service, governance and the role of the Church in contemporary society. He is currently completing a Masters in Public Administration at the University of Birmingham and previously completed a Masters in Theology and Ministry at Durham University.

Speaking about his appointment, Matthew said:

"I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me through this appointment and look forward to serving the people, churches and communities of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. My family and I already know and love the islands through our time on Alderney and visits across the Bailiwick. I am committed to serving the whole Bailiwick, listening well, building relationships and supporting the mission and ministry of the Church in every island community.

 

"The Church has a vital role to play in Making Jesus Known, nurturing hope, serving local communities and contributing to the common good. I look forward to working with churches, civic leaders, charities, schools and community partners to support the wellbeing and flourishing of the whole Bailiwick."

Matthew is married to Sarah, they have two children, Isabelle (11yrs) and Henry (7yrs). The family will move to the Bailiwick in late August ahead of him taking up the role in late September.