St Boniface Church, Bonchurch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Boniface Church, Bonchurch
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Liturgical
Website	[1]
History
Dedication	St Boniface
Administration
Parish	Bonchurch
Diocese	Portsmouth
Province	Canterbury

St Boniface Church, Bonchurch is a special place of worship, known as a parish church, located in the beautiful village of Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is a central part of the community, where people gather for services and events.

What is the History of St Boniface Church?

This church was built a long time ago, between 1847 and 1848. A famous architect named Ferrey designed it. It was created to take the place of an even older church, which is called Old St Boniface Church, Bonchurch. Luckily, the old church was not torn down and is still standing today!

The church has a cross shape when you look at it from above. It has a small porch on the south side and two rooms on the north side, one for the clergy and one for the organ. There's a bell tower with one bell that weighs about 200 kilograms and rings in the key of E flat. A lot of the money to build this church came from Captain Swinburne, who was the father of the famous poet Algernon Swinburne.

A very important family, the Sewells, who followed a special religious movement called Tractarianism, were also very involved in starting this church.

Who is Remembered at St Boniface Church?

Inside the church, there is a special screen that separates the Rector's (the church leader's) area from the main part of the church. On this screen, you can find a memorial to Lord Admiral Earl Jellicoe. He was a very important naval leader from the Battle of Jutland and used to worship here.

What About the Church's Beautiful Windows?

The church has amazing stained glass windows. The three large windows at the east end are called a Triptych. They were made by William Wailes and show different scenes from the life of Jesus. Above these, a round window shows angels appearing to shepherds to announce Jesus's birth.

Other windows around the church feature many saints, including some from East Anglia. These include St Benedict Biscop, who taught the Venerable Bede, and St Edith of Wilton. Many of the beautiful stained glass windows were created by artists like Henry Holiday and the company Shrigley and Hunt.

What is the Organ Like at St Boniface Church?

The church has a wonderful pipe organ built by Forster and Andrews in 1872. It's a special type of organ with two keyboards and a pedalboard. The organ's beautiful wooden case is painted with designs like Fleur-de-lis and Tudor Roses. In the 1930s, this casing was moved forward to create a canopy above the organ keys.

This organ has 21 different sounds, called stops, and is considered so important that it is a Grade II listed item. It was repaired in 1995 to remember someone who used to attend the church.

Who Played the Organ at St Boniface Church?

The very first organist of the church was Miss Elizabeth Sewell. Her brother, William, founded Radley College, a famous school near Oxford. Miss Gwladys Williams was the organist and choir director for a very long time, from 1921 to 1978. After her, Mr. Ian D. Snow was the organist and choirmaster from 1978 until 2006. The church is known for its strong musical traditions and is connected to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).

Who is Buried at St Boniface Church?

Many people have been laid to rest in the churchyard of St Boniface Church. Some notable people include:

• Algernon Charles Swinburne, a famous poet, who passed away in 1909.
• Henry De Vere Stacpoole, an author, who passed away in 1951.
• The Reverend James White and his family, who were close friends with the famous poet Alfred Lord Tennyson. Tennyson often visited them in this area.

There are also graves for soldiers who died in wars, known as Commonwealth War Graves.

Images for kids

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  St Boniface Church from the outside.