About 300 parishioners packed the church to consider the congregation’s plans – estimated to cost more than £1 million – to turn chapels into meeting rooms, reverse the ages-old Christian tradition of facing east during acts of worship, create toilets and remove the pews.
After more than 2½ hours of discussion the vote was taken and the proposal was rejected by 193 votes to 86, with three spoiled papers.
The meeting on Wednesday evening started ten minutes late as the queue stretched outside while parishioners registered to vote, as only bona fide electors could take part in the secret ballot.
The rector, the Rev Ian Pallent, and UK architect JBKS, which specialises in church modernisation projects, outlined the plans.
Mr Pallent said: ‘The purpose of this assembly is to hear the reasons why the church is putting forward these plans for the building.
‘I recognise that this could be, for many of us, a difficult and challenging decision, as it affects everything we have always known.’
However, he added, while there had to be a balance between the different views, the needs of future congregations who would expect modern facilities also had to be considered. Parishioners were being asked to approve the project, with the parish’s financial contribution – estimated at £213,000 – to be decided at another assembly in July.
Nonetheless, Martin Webster said: ‘If this is passed we will be asked for a £213,000 contribution for a small group of people and this represents nearly half of the parish reserves, which have been built up over centuries.
‘Or it could result in a 33 per cent increase in the 2019 rates, so how can we justify using such a large amount of money for such a small group?’
Islander Brian Follain questioned if such a modern transformation was appropriate, as the church was soon to be given the Island’s highest heritage listing by Planning.
He said: ‘I appreciate that such transformations may be found in large UK inner cities such as Birmingham or Mosside but this is St Ouen and we are traditional.’
Congregation member Martin Hewlett spoke in favour of the plans, saying: ‘This is an absolutely stunning proposal to make a wonderful use of this magnificent space.’
He was followed by fellow worshipper, former parish Deputy and ex-National Trust for Jersey president Ken Syvret.
With his voice breaking with emotion he said: ‘I have gone through every emotion since these proposals were tabled – sadness, fear and much questioning of my stance in all these matters.
‘We must reject the proposals and, in the words of the proposers themselves, save “the jewel of St Ouen”.’
