Town Church needs £1.1m
Saturday 20th December 2008, 10:00AM GMT.
THE Town Church could close if The Dean does not get the Christmas present that he wants – £1.1m to cover internal renovations.
At an ecclesiastical assembly earlier this month, the Very Rev Bob Key formally asked for money to refurbish the interior of the medieval church. But St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft says that he does not think that ratepayers should have to foot the bill alone, and has asked the diocese and the Council of Ministers for help.
The parish has already spent almost £1m on the walls and roof of the building this year. Mr Key says that if the work does not go ahead, the church will probably have to close down in 18 months because the wiring and the heating will not work. The refurbishment, which is likely to take two years, would include paintwork, replastering, a new heating system, lighting and underfloor heating.
Pictured: The Dean, the Very Rev Bob Key, at the Town Church
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals & Departures
Harbours Arrivals & Departures
Bus Information & Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
GET INVOLVED WITH... KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
That’s great news! I’m sure the land can be better used for plenty of other things, and the churches are mostly empty the last few years anyway as the vast majority of people are no longer forced to go through a fear of eternal reprisal from their vengeful god.
I sincerely hope that us taxpayers / ratepayers do not have to foot the bill to keep this eyesore open just for the odd few naive people that would still go.
Report abuse
I think the church any church shouldnt have any taxpayers money as not all of us share the same believes .
However concedering that the church is a beautifull belding and its age ,we should protected under Jersey Heritage .
I do not think we should give any money to religious organization .
Report abuse
Why is the church given so much money ?
At a time when people are dying of starvation and lack of basic medical faclities on our planet, I find it surprising that our church faithfull would not think it better to spend the money on improving the lives of these unfortunate people rather than the upkeep of a building.
The church collects money from the faithfull let those who wish to worship pay for the facility.
If this is just a early warning that Terry is going to give his church money from the States coffers I will be very upset. He can spend his own money on his chosen place of worship but not our money.
This is not what the budget cuts and gst were meant for.
Report abuse
Lets sell the Church Deanery in David Place a huge house in a prime spot it would easily raise the 1.1 million pounds to repair the Town Church for the community
Put the dean in a States Flat at les Marias
There is no reason that he should have such a large house, Jesus would certainly approve and the Dean would set a good Christian example
Happy Christmas
Report abuse
No comment is deserving Tobias.
But seriously Reverand, does any project manager spend a million pound on the outside, and then say well, another million for the inside please. Did you not plan for the whole project?
Good steward, please give account.
Report abuse
I disagree with the comment by Tobias, that the land can be put to better use. Obviously the town church is a listed building and very special historically.
If the congregation cannot afford the upkeep then they should offer the building to the States and then it could be used as an extension of the museum service to display Jersey’s rich history from a religeous perspective, covering neolithic animism, paganism, early christianity, roman catholicism, the reform, methodism and finally atheism, all of which have held sway in Jersey at one point in time or another.
In short it is one of the few architectural jems in St. Helier and should be preserved, but if the congregation are not willing to pay for the upkeep then they should find another location to worship and pass the ownership of the building to the States or Jersey Heritage. Tax payers should never be asked to cover the costs of any religion in any shape or form.
Report abuse
Darren you missed one, the religion based around greed or is it just the mememe belief, as religion is based around faith and the way in which we live our lives this is surely a religion which most in Jersey have taken to like a duck to water. Maybe Jersey could use the £1.1m to build a new place of workship or will the WEB £320 m place of worship be sufficient!!
Report abuse
I live in St Helier and do not agree in religion.
If we all have to pay then why are we not paying for other faith buildings?
How do I go about not paying the churchs part of my Rates Bill.
I see no reason why I should have to pay for something I will not use or believe in.
This is as bad as a TV licence.
Report abuse
The Church is a fantastic building and should not be allowed to lay to ruin. If that means the tax payer has to foot some of the repair bill then I’m happy to pay a little.
What shouldn’t be paid for is additional work to keep the church ‘running’ for religious service – i.e. electric, heating etc. That should be paid for by those who attend the services. The building should only be maintained on a level for people to visit – much like La Hougue Bie is.
Report abuse
I would like to know how £1 million was spent from rate payers money?
I bet you most of the people who use this church are not St hellier residents.
Also why should a church get rate payers money?
If this were a mosque would they have got £1 million?
Religions rely on donations and if they can not afford to run they should be closed just like any other faith or business.
Report abuse
work on the outside has been paid for. I for one am not paying for work on the interior – go tap up the guy that spoke with his loud voice against offshore finance industries- he’s religious too which should help
Report abuse
It doesn’t seem that long ago when the church was completly covered with scaffolding and works were done. 1 Million seems alot, if the taxpayer is paying, we should have a detailed breakdown of the costs.
Report abuse
I am saddened to read such negative comments regarding a part of our Island history.
the first question that somes to mind is whether anyone who made these observations will be celbrating the Christian Holiday in the next couple of days?
Our Island and its heritage is very precious, the Town Church is the centre piece of our Christian Faith and its loss would be akin to saying that we are all heathens!
Report abuse
The town church could probably do with a lick of paint but Islanders have a host of churches they can attend if they chose to especially St Thomas’ which is a joy to visit at any time of the year not only at Christmas!
Report abuse
St Helier Parish Church is the responsibility of the ratepayers of the Parish of St Helier. We are British, and it is our duty to support the religion, heritage and culture of the crown.
There are enough residents in the Parish to fund this restoration and Simon Crowcroft should be told to get on with finding the money this very worthwile cause.
Report abuse
I for one don’t mind being called a heathen to the christian’s god…I prefer to think that everybody is responsible for themselves and their own actions rather than in a man who supposidly died in order for people to be saved from the reprecussions of their “sins” providing they believe in his god. As such I protest quite strongly to my money being spent on the church.
Muppet4534 -
The Christmas most people are celebrating was brought about by St. Nicholas, organised shops and coca cola. Furthermore The holiday was originally the pagan holiday of winter solstice, December 25th being the time days start getting longer again (and chosen subsequently to be Jesus’ birthday in the 4th Century 400 years after the bloke died!) Fairy lights, Xmas trees, tinsel and holly all celebrate the pagan festival of winter solstice and father christmas in red and white was an image created by coca cola in the advertising campaign in 1931. The nativity plays children put on are a myth, one that is recognised by the church as being a myth
Our island’s history symbolised by churches is that we committed atroxious acts in the name of God – burned many women at the stake for this religion for being “heathens” why would i want to pay for an establishment with a history like that?
Report abuse
I would object most strongly to MY money being used to pay for a building which represents a belief in fairy tales. If the church needs work doing on it let their customers pay for it.
‘We are British, and it is our duty to support the religion…of the crown.’ -Peter
Utter rubbish. It is not my duty to do any such thing. If I am wrong, show me the law which says otherwise.
That said, it is an historic building and should be preserved but not if it is only for the benefit of the minority. I agree with Darren’s idea of handing it over to the Museum Service if the Dean objects to selling his luxury multi million pound home in David Place.
Id wonder whether he would qualify for a flat at Les Marais though. Does he have his quallies? He surely can’t be essentially employed can he?
Report abuse