St Blasius Church, Shanklin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Blasius Church, Shanklin |
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| 50°37′18″N 01°11′02″W / 50.62167°N 1.18389°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | st-blasius-church.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Blasius |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Shanklin |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Blasius Church, Shanklin is an old church in Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight. It belongs to the Church of England. People also call it Shanklin Old Church.
This church is very old, dating back to the Middle Ages. However, most of it was rebuilt in 1859. One special thing about it is that the ropes for ringing the bells hang down into the main part of the church. This means people sitting in the church can see the bell ringers at work!
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History of St. Blasius Church
The church is located at the southern end of Shanklin. It stands where the roads to Wroxall and Ventnor meet.
Early Church Design
Originally, St. Blasius Church was a simple, long building. It had a main area (called the nave) and a chancel (the part where the altar is) all in one line. This was a common design for small chapels back then.
Changes Over Time
In 1852, the church was made bigger. New sections called transepts were added, which stick out from the sides like the arms of a cross. The church was also made longer towards the west. A small tower for bells, called a bell turret, was built where the roofs met.
A special gate, known as a lych-gate, was built at the entrance. It has a roof, a clock, and a bell. This gate was put up to remember Mr. White-Popham. Inside the church, there is an old oak chest from the Renaissance period. It looks like it might have been brought from another place. You can also find special plaques inside that remember members of the Hill and Popham families. The church records, called registers, go all the way back to 1717.
Famous Funerals
In 1941, the funeral of Powis Pinder was held here. He was a well-known actor and singer.
Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1874. It was made by a company called Forster and Andrews. If you want to know more details about this organ, you can find information on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
