A Guided Walk round St Martin's Church - Part 2

A Guided Walk round St Martin's Church - Part 2

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 part 1 of this walk, see here:
http://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-guided-walk-round-st-martins-church.html

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 LADY CHAPEL. Originally dedicated in 1963, was given by a member of the Wedgwood family, whose coat of arms is on the silverware. The chapel was refurbished and rededicated in 2014 by bequest, in memory of Mrs Margaret Wedgewood.

In the transept is a modern ICON depicting the life of ST MARTIN. It was written in 2010 by local artist Karen Blampied.

In the church are three beautiful STAINED GLASS WINDOWS by the famous artist Henry Thomas Bosdet a Jerseyman (9a,b,c).

The brass LECTERN was formerly sited in the North Nave. The eagle carries the Word of God to the people of the world (10).

SAINT MARTIN is shown in this window as the Roman Soldier he originally was before his conversion to Christianity (11).

There are many MEMORIALS on the walls of the church. Josue Blampied de la Haye remembered here was killed in Gallipoli in 1915.

Our children's corner is situated beneath the STAINED GLASS WINDOW depicting Jesus blessing the children. This is one of only two ORIGINAL WINDOW FRAMES left in the church there is no inside stone frame as with all the other windows.

 The beautiful `ECCE HOMO' window read all about it on the description by the window (12).

The STANDARDS in glass cases on the west wall by the door are those of the St Martin's Jersey Militia which was disbanded in 1946 (1 a,b).

Walk around the outside and you will see the various stages of building. St Martin's Church has numerous BUTTRESSES two of which, dated 1754, were built to hold up the stone roof and stop the North nave wall collapsing.

You will also see various LINTELS and blocked up doorways and windows. St Martin's is unusual in  having only one public access doorway, two doors were blocked up in 1794. Can you think why?

Map of Church

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