Should the island mark St Sampson’s Day?

That is the question the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, was considering as the feast day of St Sampson, Guernsey’s patron saint, passes today with barely a glimmer of interest.

St Sampson’s story dates back to the 6th century. Born in Wales, to a Breton prince and a Welsh princess, he trained as a monk. He was ordained a bishop before starting his travels, to the Isles of Scilly, then Brittany, where he founded a monastery at Dol, and then he came across the Channel Islands, landing at the Braye du Valle and establishing a church more or less where he came ashore, in what is now Church Road, off South Side.

Sampson is credited as the man who brought Christianity to the island.

‘They were thought of as the Dark Ages but actually that was a hugely creative time,’ said Mr Barker.

‘Sampson’s legacy was significant and he was key in bringing the Christian faith to Guernsey, and he had very strong connections with the western Celtic fringe from Ireland through to Spain, including the islands.’

Mr Barker said Jersey treated St Helier, its patron saint, with much more reverence, including a procession through the parish on the saint’s birthday.

‘Perhaps we ought to make rather more of St Sampson as a person and celebrate his part in Guernsey’s unique history,’ he said.

n Should we have a bank holiday to celebrate Guernsey culture on St Sampson’s Day? Let’s celebrate, Page 17