Historic Buildings Register: Review of St. Matthew's Church, St. Peter.

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A decision made (07/07/2006) regarding Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance as a Building of Local Interest: review of St. Matthew's Church, La Rue de la Ville au Bas, St. Peter.

Subject:	Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Historical and Archaeological Importance as a Building of Local Interest: review of St Matthew’s Church, Rue de la Ville au Bas, St Peter
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2006-0070	Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written/oral	Person Giving Report (if oral):		Historic Buildings Officer
Telephone or e-mail meeting		Report File ref:		3/04/02/01/Ministerial Reports
Written Report Title:	Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey - review of St Matthew’s Church, Rue de la Ville au Bas, St Peter	Written report – Author:		Curator of Historic Buildings
Decision(s): The existing pSSI registration for St Matthew’s Church should be amended to include the presbytery and former school building.
Reason(s) for decision: St Matthew’s Church (including the presbytery and former school building) satisfies the published criteria for registration as a pSSI. The registration of St Matthew’s Church is in accordance with Interim Policy HB1 which states ‘Historic buildings which contribute positively to the distinctive character or appearance of Jersey’s built-up areas or countryside, particularly where they are of ‘group value’, will be identified and included in the Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey.’ The grade of pSSI is in accordance with Interim Policy HB2 which states ‘Designation of buildings of architectural or historical importance as Sites of Special Interest will normally be limited to those whose authentic fabric, plan form, interior features or historical associations of the interior contribute to their special archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural, historical, or traditional interest.’
Action required:  Amend the Historic Buildings Register to include the presbytery and former school building  Issue notification letter to the owner  Notify Development Control - Rural Section of the decision
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 7 July 2006

Historic Buildings Register: Review of St. Matthew's Church, St. Peter.

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Review of St Matthew’s Church, La Rue de la Ville au Bas, St Peter

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider clarifying the existing pSSI registration for St Matthew’s Church, having regard to the States strategic objective ‘to protect the best of the Island’s architectural heritage’ and a key objective of the Island Plan 2002 to protect and promote Jersey’s built, cultural and archaeological heritage.

Background

This report has been prepared by the Jersey Heritage Trust as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to make assessments and to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the registration of buildings and sites. It incorporates the views of the Jersey Heritage Advisory Panel (JHAP) - a group established to provide independent, expert advice on matters relating to the protection of buildings and sites of cultural interest.

St Matthew’s Church was included in the 1992 Historic Buildings Register and was confirmed as a pSSI by the Jersey Building Heritage Sub-Committee during its review of registered buildings in St Peter in 2002.

In March 2006, Reverend Paul Hagg enquired of the Historic Buildings Officer as to whether the pSSI registration includes the adjacent presbytery and former school building. As a result of this, the Planning and Environment Department requested that the Jersey Heritage Trust undertake an assessment of the buildings ahead of discussions by the Jersey Heritage Advisory Panel on 10 April.

Discussion

An evaluation of the significance of the church site was carried out by the Curator of Historic Buildings in March 2006. It was observed that the presbytery and former school building are contemporary with the church and clearly intended as an integral part of the site. The historic layout of the site and relationship between the buildings survives as does a substantial proportion of original fabric and architectural features.

It was noted that the church is dedicated to Matthieu de Gruchy - a Jerseyman who was forced to leave the Island because of his preaching activities in 1795 - and has historic interest as an important site in the re-establishment of Roman Catholicism in Jersey in the nineteenth century. The church, presbytery and former school building contribute to the scenic character of the area and have group value both as a set piece and with the nearby St Matthew’s Convent.

It was concluded that the existing pSSI should include the church, presbytery and former school building. The Panel agreed with this conclusion at its meeting on 10 April 2006, but recommended that all post-reformation church buildings be re-assessed in light of a thematic review.

Recommendation

The existing pSSI registration for St Matthew’s Church should be amended to include the presbytery and former school building.

Reason(s) for Decision

St Matthew’s Church (including the presbytery and former school building) satisfies the published criteria for registration as a pSSI.

The registration of St Matthew’s Church is in accordance with Interim Policy HB1 which states ‘Historic buildings which contribute positively to the distinctive character or appearance of Jersey’s built-up areas or countryside, particularly where they are of ‘group value’, will be identified and included in the Register of Buildings and Sites of Architectural, Archaeological and Historical Importance in Jersey.’

The grade of pSSI is in accordance with Interim Policy HB2 which states ‘Designation of buildings of architectural or historical importance as Sites of Special Interest will normally be limited to those whose authentic fabric, plan form, interior features or historical associations of the interior contribute to their special archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural, historical, or traditional interest.’

Action Required

 Amend the Historic Buildings Register to include the presbytery and former school building

 Issue notification letter to the owner

 Notify Development Control - Rural Section of the decision

Written by:	Roger Hills Curator of Historic Buildings - Jersey Heritage Trust

Approved by:	Fiona Smith Historic Buildings Officer

Endorsed by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director

Attachments:

Location plan

Historic building survey form

Photographs

23 May 2006