St Ann's Church, HMNB Portsmouth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Ann's Church
St Ann's Church within Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth
Location	Sunny Walk Portsmouth PO1 3PX
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Church
Dedicated	1786
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	25 September 1972
Style	Georgian
Specifications
Materials	Red brick
Administration
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of the Royal Navy
Diocese	Portsmouth

St Ann's Church is a special Anglican church. It is located inside the Royal Navy's base in Portsmouth, England. Many people see it as the spiritual home for the Royal Navy. Inside the church, you can find many memorials. These honor sailors who were lost at sea.

A Special Church for the Royal Navy

History of St Ann's Church

The very first church building was put up in 1704. This was on the spot where Admiralty House now stands. The church you see today was opened in 1786. It is built using red bricks in a style called Flemish bond. This means the bricks are laid in a special pattern.

A surveyor named Marquand might have designed the church. He worked under Samuel Wyatt, who was involved with Admiralty House. The builders were Thomas Parlby & Sons. The church was damaged by bombs in May 1941 during World War II. It was later repaired between 1955 and 1956.

St Ann's Church is the oldest chapel still standing in a navy yard. Because of its history, it was given a special status. It became a Grade II listed building on September 25, 1972. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.

Remembering Heroes at Sea

In October 2012, the church held important events. These marked 30 years since the Falklands War. Princess Anne attended these ceremonies. As of 2015, the main priest, or chaplain, was Reverend James Francis.

The HMS Royal Oak Association holds a special service every year. This "Act of Remembrance" takes place on the Saturday closest to October 13. This date marks when the battleship HMS Royal Oak (08) was sunk in 1939. It happened at a place called Scapa Flow.

On October 9, 2019, a memorial stone was revealed at the church. This was 80 years after the ship was torpedoed. Princess Anne unveiled the stone. Even though the last survivor of the sinking passed away in 2016, about 150 relatives of the crew came to the service.