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 an old and important church in the village of Brighstone, on the Isle of Wight. It is part of the Church of England. In the churchyard, there is a special stone that remembers George Albert Cairns. He was a brave soldier who won the Victoria Cross, which is a very high award for courage.
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What is the History of St. Mary's Church?
This church is very old, dating back to the 1100s. That means it's over 900 years old! The tower of the church has eight bells. All these bells were made by the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Six of them were made in 1961, and two more were added in 2017. The biggest bell weighs about 350 kilograms! A tall, pointed roof called a spire was added to the church tower in the 1600s.
What Happens at the Church Today?
St. Mary's Church is well-known for its yearly Christmas tree festival. This event is called the Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival. It happens with another church in Mottistone. Many people visit this festival every year.
The festival takes place in four different spots:
- St. Mary's Church, Brighstone
- Brighstone Methodist Church
- St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Mottistone
- Wilberforce Hall, Brighstone
Hundreds of people, groups, and businesses create special Christmas tree displays. This makes it one of the biggest festivals of its kind.
Who are the Past Leaders of the Church?
Some of the people who used to lead St. Mary's Church became very important. Three former Rectors (the main priests) later became Bishops. A Bishop is a senior leader in the church.
These important leaders include:
- Thomas Ken: He was a famous writer of hymns, which are church songs.
- Samuel Wilberforce: He was the youngest son of William Wilberforce, who worked to end slavery.
- George Moberly: He later became the Bishop of Salisbury, another important church role.
What Kind of Organ Does the Church Have?
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. If you want to know more about the old pipe organ that used to be there, you can find details on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
