Intent to list St Matthew's Church, La Route de St Aubin as Site of Special Interest (25.07.08)

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A decision made (25.07.08) to confirm intention to list St Matthew's Church, La Route de St Aubin as Site of Special Interest

Decision Ref:	MD-PE-2008-0083
Subject:	Intent to List as Site of Special Interest: St. Matthews Church, La Route de St. Aubin, St. Lawrence
Decision Summary Title:	DS - Intent to List as Site of Special Interest: St. Matthews Church, La Route de St. Aubin, St. Lawrence
DS Author:	Janet Dore, Principal Historic Buildings Advisor
DS Date:	28/03/08	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – Intent to List as Site of Special Interest: St. Matthews Church, La Route de St. Aubin, St. Lawrence
WR Author:	Roger Hills, Curator of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage Trust
WR Date	18/03/08	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Roger Hills, Curator of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage Trust
Decision(s):	The Minister for Planning and Environment; Confirmed his intention to list St. Matthews Church, La Route de St. Aubin, St. Lawrence as a Site of Special Interest; Authorised the service of the Notice of Intent to List.
Reason(s) for Decision:	1. The special interest of St. Matthews Church, La Route de St. Aubin, St. Lawrence, 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 and the States Strategic Plan. 2. It accords with the States Strategic Plan commitment of protecting and sympathetically managing the Island’s built heritage assets.
Legal and Resource Implications:	None
Action required:	Service of Notice of Intention to List
Signature:
Position:	Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Intent to list St Matthew's Church, La Route de St Aubin as Site of Special Interest (25.07.08)

Intent to List as Site of Special Interest:

St. Matthews Church, La Route de St. Aubin, St. Lawrence.

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.

The Planning and Environment Department requested In February 2008 that the Jersey Heritage Trust assess the architectural, historical and other interests of St. Matthews Church ahead of discussions with the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Curator of Historic Buildings

Date of report: 18 March 2008

File ref: LA0154

Relevant interests of the site (also see schedule)

St. Matthews Church is currently registered as a pSSI and is of special architectural, historical and artistic interest.

St Matthew’s Church is one of the most interesting and significant twentieth century buildings in Jersey - representing a collaboration of the work of locally renowned modern movement architect, A B Grayson, and the world famous glass designer René Lalique.

The main structure of the church dates to 1840 when St Matthew’s was built as a chapel of ease for the growing population in the Millbrook area. The church was extensively remodelled in 1934 by Florence Boot, Lady Trent, as a memorial to her late husband Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent of Nottingham (founder of the Boots Company). The exterior of the church was refashioned in an International Style with plain rendered walls and geometric shapes, and the interior fitted and decorated throughout by glasswork designed and made by Lalique - St Matthew’s having the distinction as the only church where Lalique decorated throughout.

The glasswork includes a great Cross flanked by two pillars behind the altar, a communion rail, screens and windows decorated with the Madonna lily and Jersey lily, and a chalice-shaped font. The reredos of the Lady Chapel is composed of four glass angels that recur as panels in the main doors. The church is lit by massive ceiling light troughs also of Lalique glass, and there are smaller glass lamps within the north porch. The pews, doors and other joinery are of English oak, and there is a variety of stonework used within the church.

Advice received (MRLAG or others)

MRLAG discussed St. Matthews Church at its meeting on 17 March 2008. Members were unanimous that the site should be listed as an SSI for its historical, architectural and artistic interest as set out in the accompanying schedule.

JHT recommendation

St. Matthews Church should be listed as an SSI as set out in the accompanying schedule and plan.

Justification relating to criteria

Listing St Matthew’s Church as a Site of Special Interest is in accordance with the published selection criteria:

The special interest of the church extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form, interior features, and historical associations of the interior.

The church is of special interest for its architectural design, style, artistic decoration, craftsmanship, composition, and use of materials and details.

The church has an interior of particular quality, with works of art which are integral and fixed elements of the design and decoration.

The church illustrates significant aspects of Jersey’s social and cultural history, and there is close, documented, historical association with significant people and events.

Attachments

SSI schedule and plan

Photographs