A Guidebook to St John in the Oaks Jersey – Part 1

This guidebook is no longer available from the church, so here is a transcription over the next few weeks.

A Guidebook to St John in the Oaks Jersey – Part 1

Introduction

The Parish Church of St. John has, over the centuries, served as a focal point and meeting place for Christian worship. The story began two thousand years ago with the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The history, therefore, is not simply of stone and mortar, but of generations of people.

It is a living history whose story continues as, day by day, new pages are written as the people of God in this place seek to reflect His love and respond to the needs of the world. The words of our mission statement express a desire to be active, visible and relevant.

John's Church strives to be a beacon of faith and a focal point of the community where people grow together in God's love. The vitality of our corporate life finds its expression not only through regular Sunday services, but additionally through a wide range of groups, including Alpha courses, bell ringers, children's and youth groups, choir, crèche, midweek home groups, missionary support, mums and tots and prayer meetings.

The Parish Church of St. John is alive and has a fascinating history which we hope you will enjoy reading about in the following pages and whose peace you will experience as you explore this beautiful building. As you walk and read, think also, ponder the faith which built it and sustains it still.

Remember!

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

A Profile down the Ages

The Parish Church of St. John is dedicated-to-St John the Baptist, so our symbol is the Paschal Lamb, which you will see etched in glass in the tympanum in the entrance porch. The Pascal Lamb reminds us that

St. John pointed to his cousin, Christ, and said: "Behold the Lamb of God". However, we have also adopted the Parish crest the Maltese Cross, the emblem of the Knights of St. John at Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitallers). Badges were designed for each Parish to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1921. The original crests were designed by Mr. A. G. Wright, assisted by Major Rybot, who then redesigned them in 1923.

The stylised Maltese Cross is set on a green background to recognise the name of the Church in the Middle Ages (Saint Jean des Chenes, or St. John in the Oaks). We believe that the Church was called "in the oaks" because it stood in a grove of oak trees. As St. John is the Established Church in the Parish, it seems right that the Paschal Lamb (the ecclesiastical symbol), should stand alongside the Maltese Cross (the municipal symbol).

Although the first documentary evidence for our Church is to be found in a charter of the Abbey of St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte in Normandy, dated 1150, it is highly likely that a Christian place of worship had existed on this site from the 8th century onwards or even earlier. (Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury had begun setting up parishes in England in the 7^th century and it is fair to assume that the Bishop of Coutances would have done the same for the Island of Jersey.)

During the Middle Ages there were also four small chapels in the Parish: the Priory Chapel of St. Mary at Bonne Nuit, the Chapel of St. Blaise in the Fief Chesnel near Fremont, the Chantry Chapel of St. Etienne (Stephen) at Chestnut Grove and the Manorial Chapel of la Hougue Bouete (now known as St. John's Manor).

From the churchyard, it was originally thought, ran the Perquage or sanctuary path, by which criminals who had taken sanctuary in the Church were allowed to escape to Bonne Nuit Bay to the North using a track near the Chapel of St. Blaise.

However, research now suggests that the Perquage probably ran in the opposite direction to the South coast of the Island.

On St. John the Baptist's Day, (Midsummer's Day, 24th June) our Patronal Festival was observed with much junketing and the parish hosted the largest fair in the Island. However, excessive enthusiasm and over-conviviality led to the suppression of this annual entertainment at the end of the 18th century.

The oldest part of the present Church is the Lady Chapel, formerly the original chancel. The exterior masonry, renewed in Victorian times (1853) hides the Norman shell, although the doubleau (internal roof supporting vault) indicates its great age. About 100 years after the Norman Conquest, the spire was added and there are signs that a porch or side chapel (transept) existed to the South. In the 13th century a nave (the present South aisle) was constructed and the corbels for a rood beam can still be seen.

Unfortunately, around 1610 a storm damaged the top of the spire, which probably fell on the Nave, consequently leading to the rebuilding of both the nave and the spire.

During the 15th century, a splendid North chapel (now the main chancel) was built to the glory of God.

The East window, above the altar, retains the original flamboyant tracery which suggests that the four major lights are candles.

The last stages in structure can be found in the North Aisle (now the main Nave) which was put up around 1525. Some of the dating of the fabric is conjectural because down the centuries portions would be taken down, repaired or replaced and rebuilt on existing foundations, often obscuring earlier work. However it is true to say that the Church, as we know it, is witness both to the skill of stonemasons and to the worship of parishioners over many centuries.