St Ouen's Church Guide by Dennis Guerney - Part 1

This guide book to St Ouen's church was produced in the 1980s by the Rector Denis Gurney (Rector 1977-1984). A later guide book was produced by John Wileman. At present there is no guide book available within the church.

WELCOME TO ST. OUEN'S PARISH CHURCH

You are standing on a spot where worship has been offered to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for many centuries. We cannot show you any evidence of Saxon architecture here today, but it is more than likely that Christian worship started here in a simple chapel during the sixth century.

We are conscious of our links with the past, the great heritage that is ours, and in these years at the end of the twentieth century we are seeking to exercise our responsibilities and stewardship of this church building.

During this year we expect to complete the interior restoration of the church building which was begun in 1971 with the renovation of the east end of the north aisle to make the Epiphany Chapel.

During the period from 1977 the Open Fellowship area has been created inside the south door and this is used regularly week by week for junior Church; the weekly Prayer Fellowship, and other informal occasions for study and fellowship. At the same time the Chancel, and the north and south aisles have been restored. The Vestry has been made secure and facilities have been installed to heat water and wash up.

The true Church of God is one composed of living stones with Jesus Christ the head corner stone, and it is to Him that I would commend your thoughts as you visit this beautiful and historic Church of St. Ouen, Jersey. "Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ." Colossians.4:2.

I would take the opportunity to extend a warm invitation to you to join us at any of our regular services for worship.

Dennis Gurney,

Rector.

Easter 1981.

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. OUEN

The Church is dedicated to St. Ouen. St. Ouen was born in 609 A.D. at Saucy, near Soissons. Before he was elected Bishop of Rouen in 639 he had been Chancellor to Dagobert I and had founded the Abbey of Rebais in the Diocese of Meaux. He wrote a biography of his friend St. Eloi, who had been consecrated Bishop of Noyen on the same day as St. Ouen was consecrated Bishop of Rouen. St. Ouen died 683 at Clichy, near Paris, and when his body was taken to Rouen, the Abbey containing his tomb became known as St. Ouen.

In ancient times the patronage of St. Ouen's Church belonged to the Manor, but sometime after 1125 it was presented together with the Church of St. Germain de Carteret in Normandy to the Abbey of St. Michel. Richard, Bishop of Coutances records acceptance in a Charter of 1156 from Philip de Carteret, who was the son of Regnault de Carteret, who had returned from the Holy Land in 1125.

At this early date the building was a small Chapel. It is believed that it had massive walls, lighted only by narrow splayed slits along the sides, and a large window in the eastern gable, beneath which stood the altar, on a dark floor of beaten earth, raised slightly above the general level. The doorway was at the west end. The building has been added to, extended, and restored over the centuries to become our Parish Church as we see it today.

The Nave was added early in the thirteenth century, as also was the north chancel aisle. Recessed Norman arches communicate between the two, resting on massive, octagonal, dressed granite pillars.

Later in the thirteenth century the south chancel aisle was added, together with the tower. Pointed arches between chancel and aisles, and pillars chisel worked, mark the change in style from Romanesque to Early English. This was the second extension to the building.

It was not until the fifteenth century that any further enlargement took place, when the North and South Nave aisles replaced the transepts.

A major restoration took place between the years 1860-90 under the Reverend George Clement, Canon of Winchester, when the chancel was extended and a new East window, presented by Colonel Malet de Carteret was installed.  New pews were installed and the Pews designated to the Manor of St. Ouen and bear the De Carteret Arms.  The cost of this restoration amounted to £5,000.

The general view of the Nave and Chancel illustrates the massive pillars of exceptional strength, which are a feature of the building. The original roof was probably of wood or thatch, and when this was replaced with a barrel vault of stone, extra support was necessary.

The stone staircase, unique in the Channel Islands, was built to provide access to the belfry. A heavy peal of bells were installed in the thirteenth century, but these bells were later seized and sold by Sir Hugh Paulett and the other Commissioners appointed by Edward VI in 1550 to sell church property. A single bell now remains, being the fourth since 1812, when the then single bell was found to be cracked; a similar fate was suffered by the second bell and in 1844 a third bell was cast. This bell was recast in 1971 and rehung for ringing at Christmas.

Parishioners maintain the ancient custom of continuous ringing of the bell from noon on Christmas Eve and throughout Christmas Day, with breaks only for the services.

The Channel Islands were transferred to the Diocese of Winchester in 1568, but it was not until 1823 that a Bishop of Winchester first visited Jersey. The first confirmation in Jersey by a Bishop of the Church of England was administered by Dr. Fisher, Bishop of Salisbury, in 1818.