He was joined in speaking by Mr David Hannah, who represented the church community.
Pictured: David Hannah and The Very Reverend Tim Barker both spoke at the service on Friday evening.
The “brutal” way the hundreds of peoples’ remains were claimed by the quarry during August 1969, along with the tragic death of an elderly women some 50 years prior to that in similar circumstances were recalled.
Mr Hannah explained how quarrying at Longue Hougue quarry was started by a French company – Messers Menuelle and Co – in the late 1800s. By 1919 it was a thriving industrial centre.
The St Sampson’s Church grounds and a number of residential homes along Church Road bordered the quarry.
Pictured: The quarry safety fence can be seen behind this memorial bench which is near to the memorial cross erected after the landslide of 1969.
On Friday 22 August 1919, Mrs Martin had been in her garden when a landslip occurred and she was swallowed up by the quarry as “10,000 tons of granite and rubble” slid down the western slope of the 45m (150ft) deep quarry (history.gg)
Mrs Martin’s remains could not be recovered and she lies at rest in the quarry to this day.
Mr Hannah then explained how almost exactly 50 years later, on August 29 1969, part of the church yard was claimed by the quarry – taking 231 plots with it.
Although the exact numbers have never been able to be confirmed, it is believed that 484 peoples’ remains were lost when those 231 plots fell into the quarry.
Pictured: Wreaths and flowers were laid in memory of the people affected by the landslide – including the woman who died when her garden collapsed into the quarry in 1919 and the hundreds whose remains were lost into the quarry in 1969.
For many people this event remained in the past until 2022 when Guernsey Water – which has used the quarry as a reservoir for many years – used drones to check pumps.
The images revealed headstones and human remains within the quarry.
Mr Hannah told the 50 people gathered that those pictures had greatly upset relatives of those whose known graves were lost in the landslide. That included people living in Canada who asked for a wreath to be laid on their behalf during Friday’s service.
The Very Reverend Tim Barker gave a reading and led prayers before the Canadian wreath, a second wreath and two bouquets – including one for Mrs Martin – were laid at the foot of the memorial cross which stands in memory of those who lie at rest in the quarry.
Pictured: The Dean of Guernsey led the memorial service.
This weekend will see further events at St Sampson’s Church, including a walking tour of the church grounds where a number of graves of note have been identified, including that of Linda Martel – the young girl who was believed to offer spiritual healing. There are also a number of soldiers graves from both world wars, a memorial to those lost in the wreck of the Channel Queen in 1898, and numerous family graves linking the past with the present.
The church – on Church Road, just off Southside at the Bridge – is considered to be the oldest religious site still in use in the island, with its history traced as far back as the sixth century.
The St Sampson’s Church Patronal Festival will include talks about the life and work of the parish patron saint, Saint Samson.
Sunday’s church service will include refreshments before and after for those who wish to attend.
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