Our story so far…

St. Ouen’s Parish Church

For over ten Centuries, a Place of Christian Worship has stood on the present site of the Parish Church, dominating the coastline as a beacon of hope across St. Ouen’s Bay. Without doubt, St. Ouen’s Parish Church is The ‘Crown Jewel’ of St. Ouen: with nothing to rival its history and heritage; its beauty and blessing. It draws people together in moments of deepest joy and greatest need, as well as in the everyday. It is precious in the hearts and minds of many, irrespective of whether they join us on a Sunday.

St. George’s Church

In the late 19th Century, a daughter church, St. George’s Church, was built as a Mission Church to accommodate a community who could not gather easily at the Parish Church. In a way, this still continues today with the school community from Les Landes School, conveniently gathering here for their school assemblies every week.

St. George’s Church is a beautiful and beloved building, with much personal family history attached to its existence. St. George’s Church is a precious diamond in the hearts of many parishioners in St. Ouen, who feel a genuine affinity with the church, irrespective of whether they attend on a Sunday.

Today, as a Church family across two locations, we are intentional about growing in number, in depth, and in impact by both connecting and re-connecting with the community we serve.

‘A History of St. Ouen’s Church,’ by John Wileman

The following are extracts from the excellent booklet ‘A History of St. Ouen’s Church,’ written and illustrated by John Wileman.

“The Parish Church is beautifully situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the Atlantic. Down the slope from the church, towards the golden sands, is one of the finest dune areas in Europe, Les Mielles, and the largest freshwater lake in the Channel Islands, La Mare au Seigneur. This is an area where wildlife, stunning views and glorious sunsets are abundant. The church, with its rugged granite buttresses weathered by Atlantic storms, can be clearly seen from most parts of this picturesque setting of St.Ouen’s Bay.”

“The exact age of the church is unknown. It was, however, mentioned in the charter signed by William the Conqueror prior to his landing in England, so it is certain that the church pre-dates 1066.”

“The first church would have been a thatched chantry chapel on the site of the present chancel, with a large window in the eastern gable, beneath which would have stood the table on an earthen floor. The doorway would have been at the western end. Perhaps the chantry chapel was built by late-seventh century monks from Normandy.”

“The church, as it stands today, is striking for the way in which it has been “got together” rather than for any really dominant feature. It is likely that the original building was replaced or enlarged by an early member of the de Carteret family who probably obtained the feudal lordship of St. Ouen after Jersey became part of the Duchy of Normandy in 933.”

To read more from John Wileman’s ‘A History of St. Ouen’s Church,’ and view his renowned and well-loved, comical illustrations:

View a PDF of John Wileman’s ‘A History of St. Ouen’s Church‘  (5.9MB)