There’s More Than Sunshine in the Channel Islands

Summer Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shine!”

Saint Brelade is a shining light

Whilst on a recent sentimental journey with my wife to Jersey in the Channel Islands, we discovered the impressive wall paintings in the Chapelle-ès-Pêcheurs — The Fisherman’s Chapel in St Brelade’s Bay.

Returning to the island where we spent our honeymoon in July 1970, it was our first trip back since that time, retracing our footsteps of those halcyon days.

The wall shown in my photograph is decorated with a 14th century painting of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, and fourteen figures kneel around her.

The Fishermen’s Chapel occupies the site of the original wooden church built by St Brelade in the 6th Century.

The chapel would have been quite gloomy inside, but on the day we visited, brilliant sunshine shone through the tiny 11th century Norman window.

Five hundred years ago, parish churches in England were festooned with colour. Showing scenes from biblical stories, with painted images of saints, and there was even amusing details of golden angels, lions, fish, birds and grimacing beasts.

It’s sad to think that wall paintings like these were once destroyed and painted over during the English Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries.

So it warms the heart somewhat to see those uncovered and conserved for future generations.

For a more modern uncovering of very early wall paintings, here’s the link to an article my wife wrote about another of our jaunts, to the church of a lost village in Norfolk.

Thanks to Mary Chang Story Writer, and her SWPSC Team, for coming up with this intriguing six word challenge. See the link below for details.