Church of St Mary and St Radegund, Whitwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St. Mary and St. Radegund, Whitwell
Church of St. Mary and St. Radegund, Whitwell
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 for the Church of England. It is located in the village of Whitwell on the Isle of Wight in England. The church is dedicated to two saints, St. Mary and St. Radegund.

The bell tower, which also houses the village post office.

A Church Built Through Time

This church is very old, with parts of it built over many centuries. The oldest sections date back to the 12th century. Over time, more parts were added in the 13th, 15th, and 16th centuries, creating the building we see today.

From Two Chapels to One Church

A long time ago, the church was actually two separate chapels that belonged to different manors. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the area around the altar, called the chancel, were once smaller.

In the 13th century, a narrow walkway, or aisle, was added along the south side. This aisle was made much wider in the 16th century, making the church bigger.

The Bells of Whitwell

The church's bells and clock were a gift from a man named William Spindler. After he died, they were installed in the church tower. He is now buried in the churchyard.

All the bells were made in 1889 and have the words "Cast by John Warner and Sons London 1889" written on them. In 2009, to celebrate their 120th anniversary, the bells were restored by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. This big project cost over £30,000.

A Place of Remembrance

The churchyard is also the final resting place for a soldier from the Hampshire Regiment who fought in World War I. His grave is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

A Post Office in a Bell Tower

On April 16, 2007, something very unusual happened at the church. The village of Whitwell needed a new place for its post office, and the church's vicar suggested using the bell tower.

It became the first post office in the country to be located inside a church building. The idea was a big success. It helped save a local service, and community leaders hoped other villages could use this idea to protect their own local shops and services.

The Church Organ

The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1860 by a company called Bevington. In 1899, it was updated and made larger by the famous organ builders Harrison and Harrison. You can find more details about this historic instrument on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Gallery

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  The interior of the Church.

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  The altar.

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  The font, used for baptisms.

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  A statue of St. Mary.

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  An angel musician in one of the stained glass windows.