Number two in the series of Parish Churches in the
Island
Grouville Parish Church - (Bus route 2c). The proper name
Grouville Church is St Martin de Grouville, distinguishing it from
St. Martin’s Church, of whom the proper name is St Martin le
Vieux; this indicated that Grouville is a younger Church than that
of St Martin.
It was one of the eight Jersey Parish Churches from which Duke
William (later William the Conqueror) took half their tithes to
endow the Abbey of Montvilliers. It apparently belonged to the
Bisson family in the early days. On July 25th, 1149, Godfrey du
Bisson gave to the Abbey at Lessay "the church of St Martin
Grouville, with its alms and tithes". In 1315 Sir Yon de Bisson
tried to recall this gift and challenged the right of the Abbot of
Lessay to appoint the Rector on the ground that patronage belonged
to his family; he withdrew his claim before it came to Court.
The church contains ornamental buttresses resting against the
outside walls and slim Norman windows, letting in little light,
that date from before William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England.
A stone spire was built in the 13th Century by stone makers from
Normandy.
In the 14th Century, the South Chapel was built due to an
increase in population but during the Black Death, the population
decreased and a gargoyle head was carved on an early Piscina in the
Church. The population later recovered and increased in the 15th
Century when elegant later Piscinas were used and larger windows
were fitted. The North Chapel was also built with money given by
the Amy family.
In the time of Henry VIII, the Rector of Grouville was Thomas de
Soulemont, an absentee Rector, who spent much of his time at Court
in England, as French Secretary to Henry VIII, and also Private
Secretary to Thomas Cromwell.
The Reformation caused the alter and screen to be removed and
replaced with the pulpit, which was now prominent. French prayer
book of Calvin was used instead of an English prayer book, as
English was not spoken in Jersey at the time.
In 1572, a massacre of Protestants in France caused many of them
to travel to Jersey as refugees and in 1667, the French Prayer Book
was replaced by a French Translation of the Book of Common Prayer.
Around this time, Grouville acquired a silver collecting plate, and
finely wrought silver chalices. Cannons were also kept in the back
of the church to defend against the threat of invasion by French
troops. In order to keep these cannons, the entrance to the church
had to be enlarged.
In 1781, a French invasion force landed at La Rocque. The main
army marched to St Helier (where the Battle of Jersey) took place,
but a contingent remained at La Rocque. Francois Le Couteur, then
Rector of St Martin, arrived at La Rocque with his own two cannons
and urged the more cautious military commander to attack; after
some hesitation, the grenadiers were ordered to charge the enemy,
defeating the French rearguard. 8 years later, Le Couteur became
Rector of Grouville where he cultivated large orchards, and made
Jersey cider, also writing books about how to make the best cider,
and how to cultivate the finest apple trees.
Collections at this time were now taken in Georgian collecting
jars. Services would have seen the introduction of fine pieces of
Georgian silver: a jug and a baptismal bowl.
By the early 19th Century, the church suffered from rising damp
and needed repairs. Restoration was carried out by Abraham Le Sueur
and Bertrand Payn, who made stained glass windows for the
church.
References: www.wikipedia.org
The above co-ordinates are for the cache - just go find and
re-hide, there is no room for swaps and no need to trample over any
graves as it is on the path of the church, TBs or Coins –
please bring your own pen to sign the log.
*** Congratulations to the Mundy family for getting FTF
***