As well as a number of religious books and a booklet on the Derivation of Jersey Surnames which is used extensively in the Surname section of this site, Balleine also wrote a History of Jersey, All for the King: The life story of Sir George Carteret and The tragedy of Philippe d'Auvergne, Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Biography
The son of the Dean, George Orange Balleine, George Reginald Balleine was born in Oxford, and was educated by his father at home until 1885, when he went to stay with his grandfather in Jersey. He went to Victoria College, where he gained the Queen's History Prize. He left in 1891, going to Queen's College, Oxford, and gaining a 2nd class degree in Modern History. In 1886 he was ordained a deacon in the Church of England, and in 1897, a priest. He was Curate at St Mary's Whitechapel, then St Paul's, Penge. He became the Metropolitan Secretary to the Church Pastoral Aid Society in 1904, the Vicar of St James, Bermondsey in 1908. In 1925, he was also appointed Rural Dean of Bermondsey. He remained there until his retirement in 1938, when he returned to Jersey to property inherited from his uncle. During the German Occupation he was honorary librarian at the Société Jersiaise, curate at St Aubin on the Hill church, and Ministre Desservant at St Brelade's Church on the death of his cousin, the Rev J A Balleine, in 1942, in which position he remained for the duration of the war.
Writings
Balleine's writings were extensive, and mirrored his interests in history, and the evangelical party of the Church of England.
Theological
- Simon Whom He Surnamed Peter
- The Layman's History of the Church of England
- A History of the Evangelical Party in the Church of England
- Children of the Church
- The Young Churchman
- Sing with Understanding
- Past Finding Out (The Story of Joanna Southcott)
Jersey History
His knowledge of Jersey history, gleaned from his time as Honorary Librarian for the Société Jersiaise, was extensive. However, his reliance upon the documents available at the time have led to weaknesses in some areas. Nevertheless, his work has provided a solid bedrock for later historians of the Island to build upon, and his Biographical Dictionary of Jersey remains unsurpassed for its depth of research. His writing is always readable, lucid and clear.
- Articles in the Annual Bulletin of the Société Jersiaise
- Articles in The Pilot Magazine
- A Biographical Dictionary of Jersey
- The Bailiwick of Jersey
- A History of Jersey
- The Tragedy of Philippe d'Auvergne
- All for the King
Biography
George Balleine was fittingly given an extensive biography in the second volume of the Biographical Dictionary of Jersey, edited by Francis Corbet.
Family tree
Jerripedia articles
Some Jerripedia articles based on George Balleine's writings
