List of Sites of Special Interest
Review of Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan,
La Longue Rue, St. Martin
This report has been prepared by the Jersey Heritage Trust as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the registration of historic buildings and sites.
Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Curator of Historic Buildings
Date of report: 21 August 2007
File ref: MN0217
Relevant interests of the site (see schedule for detail)
The Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan was included on the first historic buildings register, published in August 1992. It was confirmed as a BLI by the Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee on 13 December 2001.
The Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan is considered to be of special architectural, historical and artistic interest.
The oldest surviving purpose-built Catholic church in Jersey. Granite-built structure of 1863, in thirteenth century Gothic style, with a charming plaster vaulted interior. Contains French stained glass windows and a number of artefacts of interest. The site includes a Lourdes grotto by the side of the entrance and an old burial ground behind the church.
Advice received (MRLAG or others)
The Architectural History Practice Limited – funded by English Heritage and the RC diocese of Portsmouth – published a report on the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan in March 2007. The report supports the designation as an SSI and concludes that in UK terms “it would be a clear candidate for listing in grade II.”
The special interest of the building was considered by MRLAG at its meeting on 13 August 2007. Members unanimously agreed that the church should be upgraded and concurred with the prepared SSI schedule and plan.
JHT recommendation
It is recommended that the Minister for Planning and Environment:
- Re-grades the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan on the historic buildings register as a proposed Site of Special Interest;
- confirm the intention to List the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan, as defined in the attached schedule, as a Site of Special Interest under the provisions of Article 51(2)(b) Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 by virtue of its special interest as described in the same schedule;
- approve the serving of the Intention to List Notice in accord with the requirements of the Law
Justification relating to criteria
The special interest of the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation and the Martyrs of Japan, as defined and assessed relative to the published criteria for selection, justifies its inclusion on the List of Sites of Special Interest in accordance with the provisions and purposes of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
Attachments
- The Architectural History Practice Limited report, March 2007
- SSI schedule & plan
- Photographs
Board of Trustees
Chairman: Jurat John de Veulle OBE Vice-Chairman: Philip Le Brocq
Rowland Anthony, Geoffrey Crill, Connétable Simon Crowcroft, Blair Gould, Clive Jones, Deputy Carolyn Labey, Paul Nicolle, Jane Stubbs,
Jonathan Voak