Church of St Mary and St Radegund, Whitwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St. Mary and St. Radegund, Whitwell |
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Church of St. Mary and St. Radegund, Whitwell
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Mary and St. Radegund |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Whitwell, Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St. Mary and St. Radegund, Whitwell is a historic parish church belonging to the Church of England. It is located in the village of Whitwell on the Isle of Wight. This church is very old, with parts dating back to the Middle Ages.
Contents
Exploring Whitwell Church's History
This church has a long and interesting past. It stands on a small hill at the south end of Whitwell village, right next to the rectory (the priest's house).
How the Church Was Built Over Time
The Church of St. Mary and St. Radegund wasn't built all at once. Different parts were added over many centuries. You can find sections built in the 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th centuries. There are also some newer parts.
The church has a main area called the nave. It also has a side section called a south aisle with three bays. There's a special area for the altar called the chancel, which also has a south aisle. At the west end, you'll see a tower, and there's a south porch where people enter.
Originally, the church didn't have these side aisles. It had a narrow chancel, separated by an arch. In the 13th century, a narrow south aisle was added. This aisle was made wider in the 16th century. It's thought that the church started as two separate chapels for different local estates.
The Church Bells and Their Story
The church's bells and clock were added thanks to William Spindler. He left them to the church after he passed away and is buried in the churchyard. All the bells have the same message: "Cast by John Warner and Sons London 1889."
In 2009, the bells were repaired and updated. This work cost over £30,000 and was done by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. This special repair happened around the 120th anniversary of the bells being installed in 1889. The village even celebrated this event during their annual well dressing festival in the summer.
A Special Post Office Inside the Church
On April 16, 2007, something unique happened in Whitwell. The village's Post Office reopened inside the church's bell tower! While some post offices have moved to new buildings on church grounds, this was the first time one was actually inside a church in the country.
The idea came from the church's vicar when no other good location could be found. This idea was a big success. The Isle of Wight's Rural Community Council even suggested this model for other villages that were losing their local services. Even though it was hoped the post office might bring more people to Sunday services, the number of churchgoers stayed about the same, around 23 people.
Remembering War Heroes
The churchyard is also a place of remembrance. It contains the grave of a soldier from the Royal Hampshire Regiment who died in World War I. This grave is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was first built in 1860 by a company called Bevington. Later, in 1899, it was improved and made larger by Harrison and Harrison. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
Gallery
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The interior of the Church.
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The altar.
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The font.
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A statue of St. Mary.
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An angel musician in one of the windows.
