AN EXCURSION TO ST. PIERRE-DU-BOIS. 



BY MR. G. T. DERRICK. 



The excursion to St. Pierre-du-Bois on July loth was 

 most enjoyable. It marks an era in the history of the 

 Society, as it gave the members their first opportunity of 

 studying the history and architecture of one of our island 

 churches. 



Twenty-seven members and friends formed the party and 

 they had a very pleasant drive. 



Rev. H. W. Brock, the Rector, had been good enough 

 to invite the Society to visit and inspect the church, and he 

 had induced his friend, Rev. G. E. Lee, Rector of St. Peter- 

 Port, to give some particulars of the history and architecture 

 of the building ; on this subject Mr. Lee is the best authority 

 in the island. 



Mr. Lee met the party on their arrival, and on behalf of 

 Mr. Brock cordially invited them to partake of some refresh- 

 ment at the Rectory, whither they accordingly repaired. 

 Afterwards they all proceeded to the church, which is 

 beautifully situated near the head of a pretty valley, 

 commanding a delightful view over its whole length to the 

 sea at Lihou. 



There Mr. Lee gave particulars of the parish and church, 

 and then drew attention to its construction. The following 

 resume of his remarks has been drawn up by the Secretary, 

 Mr. Gr. T. Derrick. 



It appears always necessary when speaking of Guernsey 

 churches, to reiterate the statement that the book called " Les 

 Dedicaces des Eglises," does not give an account of the real 

 dedication of the churches ; the statements in it are totally 

 unsupported by documentary or even traditional evidence, and 

 instead of being written by a contemporaneous author, it was 

 not produced until the 17th century. It is only necessary to 

 draw attention to a few points to make this evident : — 



