St Mildred's Church, Whippingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mildred's Church, Whippingham |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mildred |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Whippingham |
| Deanery | Isle of Wight |
| Archdeaconry | Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Mildred's Church, Whippingham is a special Church of England church in the village of Whippingham, on the Isle of Wight. It is famous for its close ties to Queen Victoria and the Royal Family.
Contents
A Royal Church: History and Design
St Mildred's Church is well-known because of its strong connection to Queen Victoria. The village of Whippingham was part of the royal lands that supported Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favorite home, and Barton Manor.
Building the Church: Prince Albert's Vision
The church you see today was built in the 1850s and 1860s. Before that, an older church from 1804 stood here. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, played a big part in designing the new church. He helped plan the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) which was built in 1854 and 1855. The rest of the church was finished in 1861 and 1862.
Royal Family Connections: Memorials and Burials
Queen Victoria cared deeply about the people living in Whippingham. This is why St Mildred's Church has many memorials for members of the Royal Family and their staff. These include memorials for Prince Albert, Princess Alice, and Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.
There is also a special side chapel dedicated to the Battenberg/Mountbatten family, who are descendants of Queen Victoria. This chapel holds the tomb of Prince Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice, who was Queen Victoria's youngest daughter.
Hessian Soldiers: A Unique Memorial
The church also has a memorial for Hessian soldiers. These soldiers fought alongside the British in the 1790s and were sent to the Isle of Wight when they were injured. Many of them stayed in Whippingham, and 84 are buried in the churchyard. The memorial was put up in 1906.
Today, St Mildred's Church works together with St James's Church, East Cowes.
Inside the Church: Features and Tributes
The inside of St Mildred's Church is very beautiful. It has bright rose windows and a large, eight-sided lantern in the middle of the ceiling.
Special Memorials: Honoring Important People
Many memorials inside the church honor members of Queen Victoria's family and household. Here are some of the notable ones:
- Chancel: A special screen behind the altar, called a Reredos, was given by King Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria.
- North Transept: You can find memorials for important figures like Sir Henry Ponsonby, who was Queen Victoria's private secretary. There is also a memorial for William Arnold, the father of Thomas Arnold, a famous headmaster of Rugby School.
- South Transept: This area includes a brass lectern (a stand for reading) dedicated to Prince Henry of Battenberg.
- Battenberg Chapel: This chapel holds the tomb of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg. It is a beautiful white marble tomb. The ashes of their son, The 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke, are also here in a brass box.
- West and South Walls: These walls have memorials for other royal family members, including Albert, Prince Consort, Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, and Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.
Burials: Resting Places of Royalty
St Mildred's Church is the final resting place for several members of the Battenberg/Mountbatten family. They are buried in the 'Battenberg Chapel' inside the church.
Those buried here include:
- Prince Henry of Battenberg (in a double tomb with his wife)
- Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (in a double tomb with her husband)
- The 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke (his ashes are in a brass box above his parents' tomb)
- The Marchioness of Carisbrooke (her ashes)
- Lady Iris Mountbatten, daughter of The Marquess of Carisbrooke (her ashes)
- The 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven (his ashes)
Outside the Church: Tower and Churchyard
The church's tower looks a bit like a castle tower you might see along the Rhine river, with five tall, pointed tops.
Churchyard: Famous Graves
The churchyard around St Mildred's is also a burial ground. Here you can find the graves of Prince Louis of Battenberg and his wife, Princess Victoria. Also buried here is Uffa Fox, a very famous yachtsman and boat designer.
The churchyard also contains war graves for seven Commonwealth service members, from both World War I and World War II.
