A Guided Walk round St Martin's Church - Part 1

A Guided Walk round St Martin's Church - Part 1

This is a brief look at St Martin's Church from the Guide leaflet with my photos included from a visit this year. The map at the end shows locations where numbered.

For a more detailed history, the reader is referred to my transcription of G.R. Balleine here:

http://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2013/11/history-of-st-martins-church-part-1.html
http://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2013/11/history-of-st-martins-church-part-2.html

The CHANCEL, boarded off in 1550 was used as the Parish School until it was restored in 1842. A further restoration in 1877, funded by the Seigneur de Rosel saw the creation of the REREDOS screen behind the altar. Made of Caen stone, the reredos was restored in 2012 in memory of Mrs Mary Keyworth a generous benefactor of the church.

Mosaic panels in the reredos represent the four Evangelists who can also be seen in the bronze insets on the BRASS CROSS given in memory of a former resident of St Martin's House opposite the church. 

The magnificent EAST WINDOW depicting `The Ascension of Our Lord' was restored in 2000 by public donation (6). 

We have four PISCENA used for the bread and wine - remnant of Fraternity Chapels of the Parish and brought here when the chapels fell into disrepair centuries ago (7a, b, c). 

THE SAINT MARTIN STATUE: This wooden statue, depicts our Patron Saint as a medieval soldier in a familiar pose. It was presented in 1936 by Lady Trent, wife of Jesse Boot, the founder of Boots the Chemist (5). 

The uncompleted MABON CHAPEL begun in the 16th Century is now the VESTRY. In the 18th Century it stored two cannons used to defeat the French forces at La Rocque during the Battle of Jersey. 

In the vestry is a 16th Century WINDOW the only one with plain glass. Note the rounded Norman top.

The VESTRY SCREEN (4) like the Lady Chapel Screen (3) is a memorial to a former Rector.

The GRAVESTONE of a 17th Century Rector (4a). Another one is to be found by the Lectern (4b). 

The PULPIT used to be on the other side of Church where the Eagle lectern is now (3). Here's me in the pulpit!

The LIST OF RECTORS is impressive going back to our earliest records including Deans of Jersey. Look how long they stayed! The most recent addition makes history as the first female Rector to be appointed in Jersey (2).

Map of Church