The Rectors of St Ouen - Part 1

The noticeboard at St Ouen's Church gives a bare bones list of past rectors of the church, but behind each is a story. Buried in a 1916 Bulletin, in French, are details which add flesh to the bar bones of that list. Francis Le Cornu has very kindly provided me with a new translation of that article.

The Rectors of St Ouen - Part 1

This parish church is dedicated to St. Ouen, the 7th century Archbishop of Rouen. There is evidence of a chantry chapel of the late 7th century on the site, probably built by monks from Normandy.

1156 Etienne

In 1156, Etienne (Stephanus) was a Priest (Presbyter) of the Church of St. Ouen, probably as the Curé-Rector. This clergyman acted as a witness during the ratification of a Charter by Richard, Bishop of Coutances, confirming that Philippe de Carteret (lord of St. Ouen) had donated the Church of St. Ouen in Jersey, etc., to the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.


1190 Guillaume

Around 1190, Guillaume, a Priest of the Church of St. Ouen, signed as a witness to a Charter by Renaud (Reginaldus) de Carteret, in which this lord of St. Ouen granted land in the Val de la Mare to the Church of St. Brelade and the Canons serving God there.

1296 Robert de Camberwell

Robert de Cumberwell had been placed in possession of the Benefice of St. Ouen by Sir Henry de Cobham, the Guardian of the Islands, but he was unjustly evicted by the Prior of Wenlock, his Lieutenant, who entrusted the Benefice to Geoffrey de Filebeck. The following year, Robert de Cumberwell became the Curate of St. Brelade.

1297 Geoffrey de Filebek

Geoffrey de Filebeck. This clergyman resided in St. Ouen for some time, where he personally carried out the ministry, which English-origin Curés did not always do at that distant time

1348 John de Hedyndon

John de Bedyndon. Presented to the Benefice by King Edward III on March 1, 1348. (See Patent Rolls, 22 Edw. III). A royal commission dated March 4, 1348, ordered Thomas de Ferraris to pursue all those who opposed the appointment of John de Hedynon, "King's Clerk," to the Benefice of St. Ouen.

1371 William Humphrey de Boole

William Humphrey of Boole. Appointed by King Edward III.

1459 Clement Poyndestre ( died within a few months )

Clément Poyndestre, or Poingdestre. Died before December 10, 1459, as it appears during the appointment of his successor. (Patent Rolls, 38 Henry VI).

1459 Ralph Gosselin

Ralph Gosselin, Chaplain. Presented to the Cure of St. Ouen, vacant due to the death of Clément Poyndestre, by Royal Letter on December 10, 1459, addressed to the Bishop of Coutances or his Vicar-General. (Patent Rolls, 38 Henry VI).

1505-1506 Pierre Le Moigne

Pierre Le Moigne (or Le Moyna). It is likely that he is the same Pierre Le Moigne, from the parish of St. Laurence, who took Orders in Coutances in December 1496. Lord Pierre Le Moigne, Curé-Rector of St. Ouen, died in or before January 1506-7. (See Extracts from the Secretary of the Bishopric of Coutances, Vol. II of the Bulletins, p. 430).

1506-1526 Jacques de Carteret

Jacques de Carteret. Appointed on January 29, 1506-7, by the Vicar-General of Coutances, on the presentation of Sir Hugh Vaughan, Governor. (See Ibid. p. 430). This clergyman was very likely one of the sons of Philippe de Carteret, lord of St. Ouen, and Marguerite Harliston, his wife, and therefore, the brother of the Bailiff Hélier de Carteret. In 1526, he was the attorney for Thomas de Carteret (probably his brother) appointed Rector of St. Sampson in Guernsey.

On August 16, 1508, Jacques de Carteret obtained a license from the Bishop of Coutances to study for 3 years at a university. (Ibid. p. 432).

1537-1546 André Powes

André Powes. This clergyman, presumably of English origin, had been appointed Curé-Rector of St. Peter du Bois in Guernsey in 1525, and then of St. Martin de Belleuse, also in Guernsey, in May 1527, a position from which he resigned in 1545. 

We do not have the date of his appointment to St. Ouen, Jersey. He resigned as Rector of St. Ouen in 1546; this resignation was accepted by the Vicar-General of Coutances on September 2, 1546. (Vol. II of the Bulletins, p. 448). 

It is possible that he held positions as Rector in both Guernsey and Jersey, as it seems to be evident from a Royal Court Act in Jersey that he resided on our island in 1537. Here is a copy of that Act: "The action and challenge of John Nicolle, Thomas Nicolle, and others, brothers of Mathieu Nicolle, joined with the King's Attorney on account of the homicide of the said Mathieu Nicolle against Andre Powes, priest, remains null and void by virtue of the statute (sic) and act of parliament made in the 2nd year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord the King concerning the general and free pardon granted and awarded by our said sovereign lord." (Catel, Book 3, f. 154 v?).