St Apollines

Out on the west coast, just back from Perrelle is the very simple but I think,

 beautiful chapel of St Apollines. 

Its first recorded in a document in 1392 as a chantry chapel, and is constructed mainly of Cobo granite, but interestingly also granite from Caen and the Chausey Islands (french islands south of Jersey).  

Strange to think that that stone had been imported in to Guernsey when so much was quarried here?

St Apolline is the patron saint of Dentists and is the only church/chapel dedicated to her in the British Isles

But the real treat happens when you step in side.

There are the most stunning medieval wall paintings, one of only two examples in Guernsey.

And the most impressive are on the south wall and depict the Last Supper, and strangely this is not a common theme for churches in either England or France. They are faded and patchy but I feel that makes them more beautiful 

It has been through its ups and downs, as it had been a Catholic Chapel, during the Reformation it was used as a cowshed and it stayed that way for hundreds of years. 

 It wasn't until 1873 the Lieutenant Bailiff persuaded the States of Guernsey to by it for £120 and it became our first ever Ancient Monument.

Its had some dodgy restoration with cement in the 1920s which has caused damp problems,  it has now been replaced with lime mortar so it can breath, so its future is looking bright. Fingers crossed!