Halkett Place Evangelical Church
That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
Island life is based on the parish system, with an Anglican church (or "Church of England") at the heart of each parish. For centuries the rectors were part of the States Assembly, representing their parish, until in 1948 new laws changed the constitution of the States, and deputies were elected to represent the parishes.
However, not all the Christian people of the Island were of Anglican persuasion. In England people who did not conform to the Church of England became known as non-conformists. This group of churches includes Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and many others.
During the first half of the nineteenth century, there was a rapid rise in the number of non-conformist chapels, especially in St Helier as the town spread rapidly. Chapels were built, borrowed, changed hands and developed (or demolished).
The Baptists, for instance, moved several times. They first met in Wharf Street in 1817, before the English congregation moved to a purpose-built chapel, known as Albion Chapel, in New Street, while the French-speaking congregation built a chapel in Ann Street. There were problems with the trustees of these buildings, and in 1865 the English Baptists moved to a little chapel in Grove Street. As the church grew, the small chapel proved too small. The French Chapelle Evangelique no longer required its building in Vauxhall Street, so the Baptist church moved in, and has stayed there ever since.
One of the older non-conformist churches is Halkett Place Evangelical Church. It looks as if the building was designed for a spire, although there is no sign of one now.
In Sion there is the building of the United Reformed Church in Jersey. It is the result of a merger of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches. The former Congregational Church is in Victoria Street. It used to have a spire, but it had to be removed for safety reasons. The building is now used by the Community Church.
A Church of Scotland was built in 1859 to serve some of the many Scots who came to the Island. St Columba's originally had a spire. However it was removed when dangerous, and that corner of the building (on the left of the second photograph) was remodelled.
The first Roman Catholic chapel was opened in 1803 in Castle Street. St Thomas’ was established in 1887 in Val Plaisant, while St Mary and St Peter’s in Vauxhall Street had started in 1867. Other Catholic chapels have also been built in other parishes. With the regular visits of seasonal workers from Brittany, and later from Madeira, masses were said in French and Portuguese as well as English. Roman Catholic chapels were built at Millbrook, St Aubin, Les Quennevais, St Matthews at Coin Varin, Ville á l’Evêque in Trinity, in St Martin’s village, in Gorey village and along the inner road in St Clement. Some of the smaller chapels have since closed.
There have been significant migrations of people from Ireland and Scotland. Many of the Irish residents of the Island have joined various congregations of Protestant or Catholic persuasions; although the Scots built St Columba's, many have also joined other churches in the Island.