Friday 29 September 2017

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


2 comments:

acorsane said...

I remember as a youngster ( I was in the choir ) climbing up to the belfry, The bell had coins embedded in it. Possibly to bring luck? Geraldine Baudains would beable to tell you how old the coins are.

I do remember being told it is one of the oldest, If not the oldest church in the Island.Hence the name, "Saint Martin le Vieux" One of the butresses on the south side has carving on it.The parish hall had a headless St Martin on the wall, I think it has been repaired after all those years. It depicted St Martin cutting his cloak to give to the beggar.

acorsane said...

I remember as a youngster ( I was in the choir ) climbing up to the belfry, The bell had coins embedded in it. Possibly to bring luck? Geraldine Baudains would beable to tell you how old the coins are.

I do remember being told it is one of the oldest, If not the oldest church in the Island.Hence the name, "Saint Martin le Vieux" One of the butresses on the south side has carving on it.The parish hall had a headless St Martin on the wall, I think it has been repaired after all those years. It depicted St Martin cutting his cloak to give to the beggar.