The most beautiful religious buildings Channel Islands

Built in 1840, Saint Matthew's Church houses some superb glass art. It was renovated in 1934, with the collaboration of the French artist René Lalique (1860-1945) for the interior decoration. The Art Nouveau style is dominant: the altarpiece, the choir screen, the altar, the crucifix, the baptismal font, the stained glass windows, the chandeliers... The translucent columns contrast with the blue carpet and white walls. The beautiful front door is adorned with crystal women. In short, Glass Church is a marvel!

This beautiful little church marks the centre of the village. Here, the whole village seems to be caught in the giron of the church, so it is no coincidence that the life of the church is entirely centered around parish activities. 

This chapel, tiny as its name suggests, was built between 1914 and 1923. Its builder, Brother Déodat, wanted to build a replica of the Lourdes basilica. He was a member of the Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle congregation, a great founder of schools and of an order known in France as the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Déodat also created several schools in the large building above the chapel, thanks to donations from Catholic communities in Europe and even America, who supported the work. The chapel, however, took him 3 tries. The first chapel, deemed ugly, was demolished. The second couldn't even accommodate the bishop and his retinue who came to consecrate it. The third is just as small (5 m x 3 m, 2.75 m high) and just as unattractive, though well worth the detour and highly original, with its interior and exterior lining of shells, pebbles and locally-colored porcelain.

It has its own crypt and a grotto of the Notre-Dame de Lourdes type. It has never been consecrated, except perhaps to the British Crown, judging by the portraits of Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V on the walls.

Today, a foundation has been set up to maintain the edifice, after having completely restored it. This highly photogenic tourist site makes a pleasant detour during your visit to the island. Remember to leave a small donation to help conserve the chapel.

Norman chapel of the 11th century. It is dedicated to Saint Tugual, a saint whose history is not known for sure. Two myths coexist: according to one, he was the son of the king of England, according to the other he was a Welsh woman murdered by the Saxons. But perhaps it is simply Tugdual of Tréguier, a Breton who founded the city of Tréguier in the^5th century and became Saint Tugdual.

In the middle of the 11th century, the Duke of Normandy, Robert the Devil, ceded the island of Herm to the Benedictines of Mont Saint-Michel. They built a very simple chapel which has survived the passage of time.

The former tenants of the island, the Wood family, had it completely restored in 1949. The four colorful stained glass windows are post-war works commissioned by Peter and Jenny Wood. They depict Christ calming the storm (a work dated 1964), Christ calling his disciples, King Samuel in the Temple, and Noah and the animals before the Ark (the latter three dated 1984). Look closely to appreciate the details that represent landscapes and animals of the island. The work is truly superb.

St. Tugual's Chapel is listed in the Register of Ancient Monuments and Protected Buildings of the States of Guernsey. It also appears on a stamp printed in Guernsey in 1970. It was last restored about ten years ago, in 2011. During the work, two human skeletons were found: an adult skeleton and a child's skeleton, which would date from 4 to 5 centuries ago.

Built of Caen stone in 1850, St. Anne's Anglican Church was built by the last hereditary governor of the island, John Le Mesurier, in memory of his parents. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful Victorian buildings in the Channel Islands. During the Occupation of the Second World War, some of its bells were sent to France to be melted down and transformed into munitions. The inhabitants having almost all deserted the island, the church was then used as a warehouse. After the war, the islanders were surprised to discover that not all the bells had been melted down. Four of them were found near Cherbourg. Unfortunately, they were in such a state of deterioration that they had to be melted down in England. Inside the church, you will also notice some modern stained glass windows. While visiting St. Ann's Church, you should not miss the cemetery adjacent to the church. Delightfully shaded, it is very quiet and always full of flowers. It must be said that the islanders pay a very touching attention to their dead, to whom they lavish a thousand cares. At the location of some graves, a tree has grown; others are surrounded by flowers and small bluish pebbles. Small wooden benches are installed all along the paths. It is pleasant to sit on them, to meditate and to enjoy the quietness of this place, which is definitely out of time.

This small island of 150 meters long by 80 meters wide, has a dozen houses huddled together. These houses are not inhabited all year round. They are used as a refuge for local fishermen and as a vacation spot for the inhabitants of Jersey when the weather is fine. One of them is even a family home of the famous British skipper of Hugo Boss Alex Thomson. Otherwise, an ancient and modest monastery probably depended on Mont-Saint-Michel, just like the churches or chapels of Guernsey. Moreover, there is, near Tours, in the Val-de-Loire, an ancient monastery founded by Saint Martin in 372, the abbey of Marmoutiers, of which only the remains remain. Is there a connection? On the "square" of Marmotier, there is a granite lintel with the inscription "Saint Martin de Jersey" and the date 1882. On the opposite wall, a white wall, there is a red and white buoy and a granite coat of arms. This is the Customs House. A house on which flies the Union Jack, the English flag. A large marine pit serves as a mooring for boats, and mooring buoys are arranged there. At low tide, huge sandbanks and pebbles extend as far as the eye can see. Nearby is the islet of Pommère, which appears at low tide on a field of pebbles. Les Ecréhous is a truly timeless spot. To be seen during a trip from Jersey.

This is a charming little chapel adjoining the church of Saint-Brélade and built around the 12th century. Inside, one can observe wall frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, partly covered at the time of the Reformation. The chapel is built of large pebbles bound with a mortar of crushed shells and mixed with sea water. The stone roof was raised in the 14th century. To this day, it is not known if the name of the chapel (Fisherman) refers to Jersey fishermen or if the term was used to refer to fishermen.

The parish church of Grouville is absolutely charming and is one of the oldest on the island of Jersey. The first church in Grouville dates back to 1035, but local historians believe it to be even older. One of the most remarkable features of the church is the double-vessel baptismal font. A church to be seen if one walks in the village of Grouville. There is also a peaceful little cemetery adjacent to the church.

The church of St. Clement, the smallest parish in the island of Jersey, is located along the A5 road and was already in existence in the early 17th century. Still standing, it has since undergone extensive restoration work in the 19th century. These works have brought to light beautiful medieval murals, including one depicting the archangel St. Michael slaying a dragon. This is the main interest of this church which doesn't necessarily look like it from the outside. Don't hesitate to enter!

The church and adjacent cemetery dominate the beach. Founded in the ^11th century, during the Norman period, the church has expanded over the years. This is the reason for its somewhat motley architecture, which makes it all the more charming. The interior features a pre-Reformation baptismal font. The nave and choir date from the Romanesque period. The altar stone dates from the ^13th century. The cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful marine cemeteries in the world. It is magnificently embellished by immense oak trees. It's an enchanting place.

This small granite church with its rural Norman appearance was founded around the ^11th century. Over the ages, this place of worship has also served as an arsenal and warehouse. As parishioners grew and architectural styles changed, the church was repeatedly enlarged. In the ^14th century, the roof was raised and flamboyant Gothic stained-glass windows were installed. Originally a Catholic church, it was transformed into a Protestant temple after the Reformation. Inside, numerous commemorative plaques cover the walls.

This late 14th century chapel is dedicated to Saint Apolline. According to the Book of Saints, the deaconess of Alexandria (who died in 249) threw herself into the pyre that had been prepared for her, rather than deny Christ. Legend has it that they even pulled out all her teeth. No wonder she is the patron saint of dentists! The chapel was abandoned and became a stable. The frescoes that it seems to have sheltered were destroyed. The State bought it in 1973 and undertook its restoration. It was returned to its original purpose in 1978.

It's the largest church in the countryside, and the one that most closely resembles the Town Church of Saint-Peter-Port. Its location is quite impressive, overlooking a deep valley dotted with megaliths, including a Christianized menhir. The shape of a cross has been deeply incised into it. Also on display are leather mugs dating from 1830, which were used for collecting money. The poor box dates from the ^17th century.

Torteval's first church was demolished in 1816. It is possible that a sacred fountain once stood on this site. As the parish's resources were limited, its inhabitants were unable to contribute as much as they had hoped to keep the building in good repair. The States of Guernsey subsidized part of the renovation. Originally designed in the "Calvinist" style, the church was later given an "Anglican" appearance, recognizable by its conical spire. Torteval is the only parish to have a medieval bell.

The island's parish church was built in 1820. Tapestries on the walls depict the island's history. The cushions on the pews, representing the coats of arms of the island's families, were embroidered by the local women. The stained glass windows depict various saints. Among them is Saint Magloire, who came from Dol-de-Bretagne in 565 to establish a monastery on Sark. The monastery housed up to sixty monks, who ran a school for the children of the Breton nobility. The Vikings destroyed the monastery and killed the monks in the 9th^century .

The church of Saint Sampson is the oldest parish church on the island of Guernsey. It was built on the same site where Saint Sampson, one of the first missionaries, came from Dol, in Brittany, in the 550s. It is thus him who gave his name to the parish. The building that we can see today dates from the 12th century. Notice to the walkers, the adjoining cemetery is very beautiful, especially in autumn.

This church is part of the domain of the six churches offered to the abbots of Mont-Saint-Michel at the beginning of the first millennium. Its first reference dates back to 1048. This one dates from the 13th century, even if the nave and the porch were built in the 15th century and are therefore of Gothic architecture. The north wing that doubles the nave is a "baroque" addition from the 18th century. Inside the church, you can see the two stone benches on which the parish council used to stand, and a baptistery. A must-see when passing through Saint-Martin.

Saint Peter Port owes its name to its parish church, commonly called Town Church. It was built around 1042. It was often reworked and completed in 1475. This church with its thick walls served as a refuge for the population during pirate incursions. The walls bear plaques commemorating the courage of the country's sailors and soldiers. You will see funerary monuments where famous Guernseymen are buried, such as the famous privateer Nicholas Le Mesurier, who died in 1759.