'
WHAT a
terrible week... but even in the darkness and moments of such deep pain and confusion,
there is a light and hope available in Christ Jesus.'
These are the words of the Revd Tim Welch - the minister at Jersey's only Baptist church.
Mr Welch has given The Baptist Times a moving insight into the minds of members of his congregation and Jersey's Christian community following the harrowing discovery of a child's skull at a former children's home in St Martin.
People are shocked and confused, as well as being fearful of what further discoveries await, he said. Many require pastoral support in different ways, while each wants justice.
But the growing love and partnerships across denominations on the island has enabled Christians in Jersey 'to speak boldly of Christian hope and justice available in our Lord Jesus Christ', Mr Welch added.
The island has been at the centre of intense scrutiny since February 23, when Jersey Police discovered the remains of a child's body at the former children's home Haute de la Garenne.
The home, which closed in 1986, was transformed by a £2.5m refurbishment into Jersey's first youth hostel in 2004.
Two years later police began a covert investigation into abuse of children at Haute de la Garenne, following allegations by former residents.
When specialist officers discovered the remains under the floor in a stairwell a week last Saturday, the investigation made headlines across the United Kingdom.
Former residents began to come forward with additional claims of abuse. Some 160 people have now said they were abused at the home in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
The increased workload resulted in deputy police chief Lenny Harper requesting a further 12 officers for the investigation. On Tuesday a specialist military team was called in to assist forensic officers in the search for human remains.
'In terms of Jersey Baptist Church,' Mr Welch said, 'we, like everyone in Jersey, are impacted by the dark, horrific secrets that are coming to light.
'There is shock and confusion for everyone, and fear for what may yet be discovered.'
Mr Welch said some members of his congregation are police officers involved in the investigation, on top of their regular police duties, while others work for social services in the children's department, with ongoing responsibility for vulnerable children.
'Each is requiring pastoral support in different ways. And each is requiring justice,' Mr Welch said.
But Mr Welch revealed that a significant aspect of Christian life in Jersey was the 'growing love and partnerships' across denominations in recent years.
For instance, a service led by the Dean of Jersey, the Very Revd Robert Key, and the Revd Canon Dr Peter Williams of Gouray Church, was organised just 36 hours following the discovery of the remains.
They said they felt it was important for islanders of all denominations to have this opportunity to 'come together and pray', according to the Jersey Evening Post.
It was called a 'Service of Prayer for God's help in this community of Jersey at a time of need.' More than 300 people packed into Gouray.
Dean Key said that even if there was only one victim, 'justice cries out to us'.
'Any abuse of any child, be it in a home, charity, church or school is not just an affront to a civilised society, it is a stench in the nostrils of almighty God.'
Chief Minister Frank Walker described the service as 'emotional and sincere' and 'brilliantly led', while Mr Welch said its prayers transmitted the 'wonder of Christian hope'.
In a newspaper column, published in last week's Jersey Evening Post, Mr Welch wrote, 'Amidst all the puzzlement of dark secrets of the past, and fear of what may yet be discovered, there is comfort in this fact - that as we turn to God, it is before him that no secrets are hidden.'
