Saint Helier Parish
| Saint Helier Jèrriais: Saint-Hélier | |
| Jersey | |
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| Area: | 2,619 acres |
| Population: | 33,522 2011 |
| Main town: | St Helier |
| Island: | Jersey |
| Website: | parish.gov.je/st_helier |
Saint Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey. Its main centre of population is the town of St Helier, the island's capital and main port, though the town has somewhat outgrown its home parish and spreads into neighbouring parishes too. Notwithstanding the large town within it, the greater part of St Helier Parish is predominantly rural.
The parish covers a surface area of 4.1 square miles, which is 9% of the total land area of the island; this area includes 494 acres of land reclaimed from the sea area.
The parish arms show two crossed gold axes on a blue background, symbolising the sea and the martyrdom of Helier.
Vingtaines
The parish is divided into six vingtaines:
- La Vingtaine de la Ville
- Canton de Bas de la Vingtaine de la Ville
- Canton de Haut de la Vingtaine de la Ville
- La Vingtaine du Rouge Bouillon
- La Vingtaine de Bas du Mont au Prêtre
- La Vingtaine de Haut du Mont au Prêtre
- La Vingtaine du Mont à l'Abbé
- La Vingtaine du Mont Cochon
Parish officers
The Parish elects a Connétable ("the Constable") and 11 deputies to the States of Jersey. It has its own responsibilities and elections to the Municipality of St Helier take place to elect honorary officials who fulfil a variety of roles for Parishioners under the overall control of the Constable, two Procureurs du Bien Public and the Parish Assembly. A variety of committees and paid officers provide the services of the parish.
Saint Helier
Saint Helier is named for Helier (or Helerius), a 6th century ascetic hermit. The traditional date of his martyrdom is 555 AD. His feast day, marked by an annual municipal and ecumenical pilgrimage to the Hermitage, is on 16 July.
Culture
Saint Helier contains cultural facilities at the Jersey Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Jersey Opera House, the Jersey Arts Centre, the performance venue of St James, the sports and entertainment facilities at Fort Regent, the Jersey Library and the library of La Société Jersiaise.
Sports facilities include Springfield Stadium, swimming pools, pétanque pitches, and badminton. Motor sports events take place on roads in the Parish as well as an annual Town Criterium, and the start and finish of the Jersey Marathon.
The parish has hosted the Jersey Battle of Flowers carnival since 1902.
Outside links
References
Books
- Balleine's History of Jersey, Marguerite Syvret and Joan Stevens (1998) ISBN 1-86077-065-7.
- Jersey in Figures, 2003–2004, published by the States of Jersey.
| Parishes of Jersey |
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St Brelade • St Clement • Grouville • St Helier • St John • St Lawrence • St Martin • St Mary • St Ouen • St Peter • St Saviour • Trinity |