St Mary's Church, Brighstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church, Brighstone |
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St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Mary |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Brighstone |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Mary's Church is a historic church in the Church of England. It is located in the village of Brighstone on the Isle of Wight. In the churchyard, there is a special memorial stone. It honors George Albert Cairns, who received the VC for his bravery.
Contents
The Church's Story: A Look Back
St. Mary's Church is very old, dating back to the 12th century. This means it was built over 800 years ago!
Church Bells and Spire
The church has a short tower with eight bells. All these bells were made by the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Six of the bells were cast in 1961. Two more were added in 2017, making a full set of eight. The largest bell weighs about 7 hundredweight, which is around 350 kilograms!
A tall, pointed roof called a spire was added to the church in the 17th century. This was a long time after the main church building was first constructed.
What Happens Today: Community Life
St. Mary's Church is well-known for its yearly Christmas tree festival. This event is called the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival. It happens along with a similar festival in Mottistone.
The Christmas Tree Festival
The festival has become a very popular event for visitors. It takes place in four different locations:
- St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
- Brighstone Methodist Church
- St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Mottistone
- Wilberforce Hall, Brighstone
Many people, groups, and businesses create hundreds of decorated Christmas trees. This makes it one of the biggest festivals of its kind.
Church Leadership: Important People
Over the years, three former Rectors (the main priests) of St. Mary's Church became Bishops. A Bishop is a very important leader in the Church.
- Thomas Ken was a Rector here and also a famous hymn writer.
- Samuel Wilberforce was another Rector. He was the youngest son of William Wilberforce, who worked to end slavery.
- George Moberly also served as Rector. He later became the Bishop of Salisbury.
The Church Organ
St. Mary's Church does not have a traditional pipe organ. Instead, it uses an electric organ. This organ is located at the back of the main part of the church, called the nave. You can find details about the church's former pipe organ online.
