St Ouen's Church Guide by Dennis Guerney - Part 6

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.

The final part of the guide has details on three of the past Rectors. I have also added some of the adverts as they are interesting - some are businesses which no longer exist, and some give interesting prices!

 

Canon George Clement

(Rector 1860 - 90)

A memorial on the north wall of the Chancel, by the Holy Table, records that Canon Clement died 24th December, 1890, aged 64. after serving the Parish for thirty years.

The Reverend & Mrs. John Pepin

(Rector 1891 - 1934)

A memorial on the south wall of the Chancel, by the Holy Table, records that the Reverend John Pepin died 5th May, 1936, aged 79, after forty-four years as Rector of St. Ouen.

Canon Edward Richardson

(Rector 1947 - 1976)

Canon Richardson was the thirty-fourth recorded Rector of St. Ouen. (The first Rector was a man named Etienne who held office in 1156).

Adverts

St Ouen's Church Guide by Dennis Guerney - Part 5

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.

The last part of the guide looks at other Churches and Chapels within the Parish of St Ouen which come under the umbrella of the Rector.

St. George's Church, St. Ouen, situated about two miles from the Parish Church at Portinfer. 

The interior of St. George's Church decorated to celebrate the Centenary of the opening of the Church on July 20th, 1880. 

Chapel dedicated to St. Anne in the grounds of St. Ouen's Manor. Built about 1300 AD; desecrated during the Reformation and used as a barn until 1914, when it was re-consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester.

Interior of St. Anne's Chapel showing the 12^th century Granite Altar Stone with its five consecration crosses from St. George's Chapel, Vinchelez de Bas Manor.

The grounds of St. Ouen's Manor are open every Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m.

St Ouen's Church Guide by Dennis Guerney - Part 4

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.

The Epiphany Chapel, magnificent in its simplicity and essentially practical, was dedicated by the Right Reverend Faulkner Allison, Bishop of Winchester on the 26th July, 1971.

... and they met together for the breaking of bread ...

"As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." I Corinthians. 11:26.

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"... and the prayers."

"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made to God." Philippians.4:6.

Jesus said: "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: . . . and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20.

As a Church in recent years we have given regular support in prayer and giving to societies working in the British Isles; the Church Pastoral Aid Society - the oldest home missionary society of the Church of England; the London City Mission with great opportunities and responsibilities, with over one hundred men in strategic centres in London. On the Continent of Europe through the Inter-Continental Church Society ministering to British people working or holidaying abroad; to St. John's College, Nottingham, training men for leadership and ministry in the Church of England. We support TEAR Fund as our main agency working to alleviate hardship in disaster areas and Third World countries.

Our overseas missionary interests are wide, embracing the Church's Ministry among the Jews; South Eastern Asian Outreach; L'Eau Vive, Provence, in southern France; work in eastern Europe, but our major support has been for the Church Missionary Society and the South American Missionary Society.

Andrew and Rosalind Richardson working with the Church Missionary Society in Kenya.

Joyce Illingworth working in Argentina, training teachers and pastors with the South American Missionary Society. (In nine months, from July 1980, over 14,000 has been given for her support).

St Ouen's Church Guide by Dennis Guerney - Part 3

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.

The monument at the east end of exterior of south aisle to M. de la Place. The Parish Register records:

 "On the 6th January 1652, Monsr. Pierre De La Place received the laying on of hands in the church of the Parish of St. Ouen, by his brother Mr. Josue De La Place; on which occasion the pastors, M. D'Assigny and M. Bon-Homme, were present, who gave him the hand of fellowship. Thus he remained in office in the Parish of St. Ouen by order of Colonel James Haines, the Parliamentary Governor. This took place after the death of Charles I, and whilst Cromwell was Protector. Hence Monsr. De La Place did not belong to the Anglican Church, but was a Presbyterian, and there was no Dean in the Island at this time. He continued as Rector until the time of Charles II."

Later we find in the Register:

"On the 6th September 1663, Matth. Jean was buried, the service being taken by Mr. Gruchy, in the absence of Monsr. De La Place, who had been suspended by the Dean, and allowed 40 days to consider whether he would take the oath to the Bishop of Winchester."

This he evidently refused to do, as some eleven months later, Monsr. Jean Francois Guillet was inducted to the benefice by the Dean. Mons. De La Place continued to reside in the Parish and died in 1681. His burial is recorded: "Le Mardi 28me jour de juin 1681 fut enterre Mr. Pierre De La Place qui avail ete ministre en cette Paroisse et avait quitte Le Place environ seize ou dix-sept ans auparavant."

Family Service (March 1981).

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship.. ...." Acts.2:42

... and fellowship .. .

St Ouen's Church Guide by Dennis Guerney - Part 2

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.

The Pulpit in Caen stone features panels enclosed by marble pillars, each containing a statue. These statues represent eight writers of the New Testament with their symbolical figures:

St. Matthew (a Man)

St. Mark (a Lion)

St. Luke (an Ox)

St. John (an Eagle)

St. Peter (the Keys)

St. Paul (the Sword)

St. James (the Scrip)

St. Jude (the Staff)

A constant reminder to those who preach, and all who listen, that this pulpit is for the preaching of the Word of God as revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.

The Font of Jersey granite was the gift of Mr. Philip Le Feuvre of Trodez. Set against the west wall this picture shows the perished cement rendering and highlights the need to restore the Nave. This final stage of the restoration of the interior will be carried out during the summer of 1981.

The exterior of two windows in the south aisle, which particularly interesting because of the Norman window (right) and the Pointed window (left), surmounted by the ancient stone coffin lid. The fact that most of the windows are pointed while others are Early English lancet suggests a transition period.

The exterior of two windows in the north aisle, which illustrate the ornamental dripstones of various designs. The dripstone over the left hand window pictured above displays armorial and religious features. The right hand picture clearly depicts a rabbit and a dog, and this is identical with the stonework over the entrance gate to the Keep of Mont Orgueil Castle. Similar ornaments are found at Avranches and Coutances.

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.