St Helen's Church, St Helens, Isle of Wight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Helen's Church, St. Helens |
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St Helens New Church
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Helena |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Helens, Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Helen's Church in St Helens, on the Isle of Wight, is a special church for the local community. It belongs to the Church of England.
The Church's Story
The first church in St Helens was built a very long time ago, even before the Norman Conquest in 1066. After the Normans arrived, French Benedictine monks started a priory (a small monastery) here. They rebuilt the old Saxon church in the Norman style. This new church served both the local people and the monks.
The church was named after Saint Helena. Over time, the nearby village also became known as St Helens. The church tower, which you can still see today, was added in the 1200s, during the time of King Henry III.
Changes Over Time
The priory where the monks lived closed down in 1414. Later, in 1440, King Henry VI gave the priory's land to Eton College, a famous school. Eton College owned this land until 1799.
By the 1500s, the original St. Helen's Church was in bad shape. It was so old and damaged that by the 1700s, people decided to build a completely new church. The old church was left to fall apart.
Only the 13th-century tower remained standing. This old tower is still there today! The area behind the tower used to be the village's burial ground for many years. In 1719, the tower was painted white and had its openings bricked up. It then became a landmark to help Navy ships find their way.
There's a fun story that sailors used to take stones from the old church to clean their ship decks. This practice was supposedly called 'holy-stoning' the decks.
In 1656, a group called Cromwell's Commissioners reported that the sea was washing away the church's foundations. They suggested moving the church inland before it fell down. It took about 60 years, but the new church was finally built safely away from the coast.
St Helens New Church
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The new St. Helen's Church was built in 1717, about a mile away from the old one. In 1831, the church was rebuilt again. Then, in 1862, a new chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was added.
Today, the church is made of stone with brick details. It has a main hall (called a nave) without side aisles, and two side sections (called transepts). It also has a chancel and a tower at the west end with one bell. Inside, you can see a special stone tablet for Sir Nash Grose, who passed away in 1814, and his son Edward.
Church Organ
The church once had an organ built in 1864 by a company called Gray & Davison. You can find details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website. This organ has since been replaced by a larger one made by Willis and Sons.
