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L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Listed building or place reference: BR0342

Historic site reference
Property
Church Of The Sacred Heart
Road name
La Neuve Route
Parish
St. Brelade
Location
View on map
Grade
Listed Building Grade 3
Category
Church and Chapel.
Statement of significance
A solid, pleasingly rugged and well-crafted granite church in thirteenth century Gothic style. It might be regarded as a symbol of the Island's post-war liberation (incorporating in its design a subtle snub to the Occupiers). The church has high townscape value.
Context
n/a
External Description
The church is in thirteenth century Gothic style, and is built of regularly coursed granite blocks under a clay tile roof. Its plan is a Greek cross inscribed by a square. Exterior: The screen west front with its bell-cote is out of all proportion to the remainder of the church, and clearly designed to make the building a landmark in the sweeping views across the bay. In this it succeeds. Central entrance with paired doors and incised carving in the tympanum. Small lancet windows. The bell-cote holds three bells and is topped by a gable flanked by two broad finials. Wide stepped buttresses flank the tower, incorporating on the south side a staircase to basement and gallery levels. Behind this screen front, the church is basically square in plan, the steep tiled roof interrupted by the gabled northern and southern arms of the Greek cross which is set within this square. Triple lancet windows to these gables, simply chamfered. The eastern arm, the sanctuary, is canted and built into the slope behind. Sacristy and presbytery extend to the north side from the sanctuary area.
Internal Description
Interior: The walls of the interior of the church are granite-faced. The main seating space of the nave occupies the central square and the northern and southern arms of the Greek cross; the eastern arm is occupied by the sanctuary and the western one by a narthex and gallery. The corners are separated from the main space by plain, deep chamfered arches; in the corners are the main entrance (SW) with a granite stoup recessed in the wall, the confessionals (NW), Lady altar (SE) and Holy Family altar (NE). A flower room gives off the north side of the sanctuary. Oak transverse arches and a quadripartite oak rib vault at the crossing, springing from moulded capitals built into the corner piers. Canted ceiling with a grid of white-painted square panels. The windows have clear diamond panes; there is no stained glass. Furnishings: The church is simply and well furnished, with highly coloured and elaborate finishes confined to the altars. The gallery at the west end holds an organ (not inspected) and is of oak construction; it has tripartite Gothic arcaded supports with trefoil arcading to the gallery front. Square oak benches to the nave. Confessionals in the northwest corner. The sanctuary has a wood block floor. White marble high altar incorporating Pieta mosaic, timber reredos incorporating symbols of the Passion, with cornice and segmental pediment and Crucifix framing tabernacle; statue of the Sacred Heart in niche over. In front of this, an oak forward altar. Altar of white marble with blue inset panels to south, Holy Family altar of multicoloured marbles to north.
Special interest
Architectural,Historical

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Documents

The plans, drawings and material provided have been submitted to the Chief Officer for permissions in respect of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002. They are protected by copyright under the Intellectual Property (Unregistered Rights) (Jersey) Law 2011 (Article 70 of the 2011 Law).

The material is being provided to make available for public inspection the Register of Planning and Building Applications and must not be used for other purposes without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

The Minister for the Environment makes every effort to maintain the accuracy of the information on this website but cannot accept responsibility for and disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of the information provided.

For applications approved during or after July 2016 approved documents are available from within the ‘Approved Documents’ section. For applications approved from 15 May 2012 - July 2016 approved documents are available under the ‘Plans’ section.

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