St Boniface Church, Bonchurch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Boniface Church, Bonchurch |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liturgical |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Boniface |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bonchurch |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Boniface Church is a beautiful church in Bonchurch, on the Isle of Wight. It is part of the Church of England. This church is a special place for people to gather and worship.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
This church was built a long time ago, between 1847 and 1848. An architect named Ferrey designed it. It was built to take the place of an even older church, called Old St Boniface Church, Bonchurch, which is still standing today.
The church is shaped like a cross, which is a common design for churches. It has a porch on the south side and rooms on the north side for the clergy and the organ. There is a bell tower with one bell inside. This bell weighs about 200 kilograms!
A lot of the money to build the church came from Captain Swinburne. He was the father of a famous poet named Algernon Swinburne. A family called the Sewells, who were very involved in their faith, also helped a lot with starting this church.
Special Memorials and Windows
Inside the church, there is a special memorial for Lord Admiral Earl Jellicoe. He was a very important naval leader from the Battle of Jutland in World War I. He used to worship here.
The main windows at the east end of the church are called a Triptych. They are an early work by an artist named William Wailes. These windows show different scenes from the life of Jesus. Above them, a round window shows angels appearing to shepherds to announce Jesus's birth.
Other windows around the church feature many saints. These include St Benedict Biscop, who taught the famous historian Bede, and St Edith of Wilton. Many of the beautiful stained glass windows were made by artists like Henry Holiday and the company Shrigley and Hunt.
Who is Buried Here?
Many people are buried in the churchyard of St Boniface Church. Some of them are quite famous!
- Algernon Charles Swinburne: A well-known poet who passed away in 1909.
- Henry De Vere Stacpoole: An author who died in 1951.
The Reverend James White and his family are also buried here. They were close friends with another famous poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, who often visited them in Bonchurch. There are also graves for soldiers who died in wars, known as Commonwealth War Graves.
The Church Organ
St Boniface Church has a wonderful pipe organ. It was built in 1872 by a company called Forster and Andrews. This organ has two keyboards and a pedalboard played with the feet.
The organ's beautiful wooden case is decorated with designs like the Fleur-de-lis and Tudor Roses. In the 1930s, parts of the organ were moved forward to create a canopy above the player. This canopy holds some of the large pipes that make the organ's sound. The organ has 21 different sounds, called "stops," and is considered a historically important instrument. It was repaired in 1995 in memory of someone who used to attend the church.
Organists of St Boniface
The very first organist of the church was Miss Elizabeth Sewell. Her brother, William, founded Radley College, a famous school near Oxford.
Later, Miss Gwladys Williams was the organist and choir director for a very long time, from 1921 to 1978. After her, Mr. Ian D. Snow took over from 1978 until 2006. The church is known for its strong musical tradition and is connected to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
