Celebrating 70 years as an altar server in Jersey

John Journeuax said it had been a "privilege" to be able to serve the church for so long

A man who is thought to be Jersey’s longest-serving altar server has celebrated 70 years of service in the church.

John Journeuax started when he was 10-years-old at St Luke’s Church in 1954.

He has served at St Saviour Parish Church, and the hospital as well.

Mr Journeauax worships at Town Church, where he continues to help support services.

‘Really enjoy serving’

An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar, such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, and helping bring up the gifts.

Mr Journeauax said he had “really, really enjoyed serving” and that it was a “privilege” to have been able to do it for so long.

He marked the milestone on Tuesday with a special meal with his family.

“Coming to church and being able to serve is everything to me,” Mr Journeuax said.

John was in his 50s when this photo was taken

Mr Journeuax is now disabled, which restricts what he can do as an altar server.

But he said he hoped “to keep on going in whatever way I can”.

Mr Journeuax added that he had lots of fond memories of his time with the church.

He said: “I met the governor once, which was wonderful, and I look back and think the 1970s and 1980s were the best days when the church was full of people.”

John (right) helping with a service at the old church in the hospital