Unique St John’s Church clock is in urgent need of repair

St John’s Church’s clock is a unique and intricate weight-driven mechanism which has remained almost entirely unaltered since the First World War.

Anybody interested in the clock has the opportunity to visit the tower to see it in person.

Ian Lihou, professional clockmaker and horologist, said the Edwardian clock is the only weight-driven clock in a Guernsey church, and the church itself, built in 1838, is in glorious Victorian style.

‘It’s the youngest church clock in Guernsey, but also one of the most original. It is still driven by falling weights and is pretty much unaltered.’

E. W. Bachmann & Co made the mechanism.

‘It is an item built to stand the test of time. We’ll all be gone but this will still be here, which is incredible.

‘Historically, it was installed just before the Spanish flu pandemic and has survived two world wars. I absolutely adore it, it’s just wonderful.’

After ticking for over a century, it is out of action.

Urgent church repair work to fix damp and decay, budgeted to cost £150,000, has been ongoing since July. It would have included clock repairs until dry rot was found and took precedence.

‘In a build like this, even with the greatest caution, any dust in the mechanisms causes a great deal of wear and tear. It has been looked after but now, it is fair to say, it’s in urgent need of maintenance,’ said Mr Lihou.

When the church was built, costs overran and an alarm bell from Castle Cornet was installed since a church bell was not affordable.

‘Everybody complained at the unearthly, toneless din. For Queen Victoria’s Jubilee the church came up with some money and decided to have four bells cast by John Warner & Sons in London.’

Three bells were made to save costs.

‘They came over on a sailing ship, to be brought by horse and cart to the church and taken up the tower by people.’

Electrification of the bells came in the 1960s.

‘They were then fixed solid and chimed with hammers, rather than bring rung by swinging ropes.’

For gilding and maintenance, the clock dial was sent to an engineering company.

Unlike parish churches, St John’s is not covered by parish rates, so donations would be welcome to fix the clock.

Vicar the Rev. Matthew Barrett said: ‘We are custodians of an island gem for future generations and want to invest in this hidden treasure of the island.’

Neighbours have told Mr Barrett they miss the chimes, querying when the bells will ring again.

‘We need to give it the love and care it deserves so it may be preserved.’

. Call 01481 720879 or email stjohnschurchgsy@gmail.com to visit the clock or to donate towards the clock’s maintenance costs, or visit: stjohns.org.gg/donate for a general donation.

Forward an hour

The clocks go forward an hour for British Summer Time at 1am tomorrow.