Belated tribute paid to woman behind St Matthew’s Church
AN UNSUNG Guernsey hero was immortalised at the church she built more than 150 years ago with a plaque blessed by the Dean of Guernsey, Very Rev. Tim Barker.
Marianne Carey was born on 22 July 1826 and grew up to found St Matthew’s Church after noticing the distance Cobo fishermen’s families had to walk to the nearest church.
Mr Barker told a gathering of about 20 islanders last week how Miss Carey had left a legacy for the Bailiwick.
‘The purpose of this gathering is to pay long overdue recognition to Marianne Carey for creating such a beautiful church.
‘It’s so different to the other churches. It has a delightful openness and space,’ he said.
‘We are profoundly grateful to Marianne.’
A steel plaque commemorating her actions was unveiled on the outside of the church, facing the cemetery
Mr Barker blessed it after reading a passage from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
Following the blessing, the group listened to a talk on the history of Miss Carey, delivered by Peter Guilbert, over tea, coffee and biscuits.
Born in Southampton, she moved to the Isle of Wight with her family five years later, spending summer holidays in Guernsey staying at Havilland Hall.
Cobo beach quickly became a family favourite and when Miss Carey observed fishermen and their families walking over two miles up the hill to Castel Church, the idea to build one in a more convenient location was born.
On her 13th birthday she told her father, Peter, of her plan and she started to save money by selling pictures of Jesus in home-made frames.
Building a church cost £1,600 so Miss Carey also looked to other methods of raising funds.
‘She kept begging her relatives for money until she managed to get together the £1,600,’ said Mr Guilbert.
A further £2,000 was needed to pay for the vicar, raised from members of the clergy and wealthy islanders giving liberal subscriptions.
The church site was given as a gift from a member of the de Beaucamp family with the churchyard being purchased by James and John St Vincent de Saumarez.
The foundation stone was laid on 21 September 1852, St Matthew’s Day, and two years later, in November 1854, building was completed.
Miss Carey married Captain Dugald Stewart Miller of the 7th Royal Fusiliers on 4 October 1853.
She died on 17 November 1912 in Bournemouth.
Mr Guilbert told the gathering how Miss Carey remains a local legend.
‘We will always remember her spirit. When we built the community centre, people said, “where are you going to get the money from?”. But, like Marianne, we did it,’ he said.
