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 located in the village of Whippingham on the Isle of Wight. It is famous for its close ties to Queen Victoria and the British Royal Family. The church stands near Osborne House, which was Queen Victoria's favorite home.
Contents
A Royal History
St Mildred's Church has a fascinating past, especially because of its connection to Queen Victoria. The village of Whippingham was part of the royal estate that supported both Osborne House and Barton Manor.
Building the Church
The church you see today was not the first one on this spot. An earlier church was rebuilt in 1804. However, between 1854 and 1862, this church was taken down and completely rebuilt. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, was very involved in designing the new church.
The first part to be built was the chancel (the area around the altar) in 1854-1855. The architect was Albert Jenkins Humbert, but Prince Albert's ideas guided the design. The rest of the church was finished a few years later, in 1861-1862.
Royal Connections and Memorials
Queen Victoria cared deeply about the people living in Whippingham. This is why St Mildred's Church has many memorials dedicated to members of the Royal Family. These include memorials for Prince Albert, Princess Alice, and Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. There are also memorials for people who worked for the Royal Family.
A special side chapel in the church is dedicated to the Battenberg/Mountbatten family. It holds the tombs of Prince Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice.
Hessian Soldiers' Memorial
The church also has a memorial to Hessian soldiers. These soldiers fought alongside the British in the 1790s. Many were injured and brought to the Isle of Wight. About 84 of them are buried in the churchyard. The memorial was unveiled in 1906.
Today, St Mildred's Church is part of a combined parish with St James's Church, East Cowes.
Inside the Church
When you step inside St Mildred's Church, you'll notice its beautiful features.
Windows and Lantern
The church has stunning rose windows, which are round windows with intricate designs. In the center of the church, there is a large, eight-sided lantern that lets in lots of light.
The Organ
The church has an organ built by a famous organ maker known as Father Willis. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
Important Memorials
Many memorials inside the church honor members of Queen Victoria's family and household. Here are some of the notable ones:
- In the Chancel: A special altar screen (Reredos) was given by King Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria.
- In the North Transept: A bronze memorial for Sir Henry Ponsonby, who was Queen Victoria's private secretary.
- In the South Transept: A brass lectern (a stand for holding a book) dedicated to Prince Henry of Battenberg.
- In the Battenberg Chapel: The tomb of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg. It's a large white marble tomb. Also, the ashes of The 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke are kept in a brass box above his parents' tomb.
- On the West Wall: A memorial to Albert, Prince Consort.
- On the South Wall: Memorials for Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.
Burials at St Mildred's
St Mildred's Church is the final resting place for several members of the Battenberg/Mountbatten family. Inside the special 'Battenberg Chapel', you will find:
- Prince Henry of Battenberg (buried with his wife, Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom)
- Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (buried with her husband, Prince Henry of Battenberg)
- 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
The church building itself is quite striking.
Church Tower
The church has a tower that looks a bit like a castle tower you might see along the Rhine river. It has five tall, pointed tops called pinnacles.
The Churchyard
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, 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 famous yachtsman and boat designer.
The churchyard also contains the graves of seven Commonwealth service members who died in World War I and World War II.
