Parish Crests
The 12 Parish badges evolved to commemorate the Royal visit in 1921 of King George V and Queen Mary. The badges were designed by A.G. Wright, assisted by Major Rybot who redesigned them in 1923.
St Helier
The two axes commemorate the beheading by Saxon Pirates in AD 555 of St Helier, Patron saint of Jersey.
St Brelade
Legend has it that St Brelade prayed for land whilst searching for the Islands of the Blest. An island arose from the sea on which he celebrated Easter. As he departed so did the island. It was an enormous fish sent in answer to his prayers.
St Clement
St Clement is the Patron Saint of blacksmiths and anchorsmiths. Legend has it that he was martyred by being attached to an anchor and thrown into the Black Sea.
Grouville
Louis XI believed that the Kings of Hungary were descended from St Martin, born in Hungary. Their arms of 8 bars of red and silver were placed on the saint’s shrine in the Cathedral of Tours. Grouville’s emblem shows the full 8 bars, whilst St Martin has only 7.
St John
The Maltese Cross is the emblem of the Knights of St John at Jerusalem (Knights Hospitallers). The stylised Maltese Cross is set on a green background to recognise the old name for the Parish church, St John of the Oaks, though the church was dedicated to John the Baptist.
St Lawrence
St Lawrence, Bishop of Rome, was martyred along with six deacons and Pope Sixtus II by being roasted alive on a gridiron. The saint is always depicted by being tied to or holding a gridiron.
St Martin
St Martin of Tours is the Patron Saint of St martin and Grouville, which is why their badges are similar. Both badges are based on the arms of the King of Hungary. It has seven bars to distinguish it from St Martin of Grouville.
St Mary
The lily of the Annunciation of ‘Flwur de Lys’ has always been regarded as the special flower of the Virgin Mary.
St Ouen
St Ouen, the Patron Saint of Normandy, founded a religious community on Jersey before the Viking invasions. He is said to have seen a miraculous cross, which told him to travel from Normandy to Jersey.
St Peter
The crossed keys of Heaven and Hell have always been the symbols of St eter. The Parish church was dedicated to St Pierre dans le Désert, recognised by the gold border to the crossed keys.
St Saviour
The Parish church, St Sauveur de L’Épine, was dedicated to Jesus Christ. Hence, the crown and nails of the cruxifixion though ’Épine‘ means thorn and may suggest a relic of the crown of thorns.
Trinity
The most curious of the Parish badges. The triangle obviously represents the Holy Trinity. God (deus) in the centre is (est) father (Parter), Son (Fillius) and Holy Ghost (Spiritus) whereas none of the members of the Trinity are of themselves (non est) God.
PTGH wish to thank Jersey Tourism for their help in providing the above information.
15/11/07
