An appeal on behalf of the St George’s Church, Arreton, Isle of Wight

I have just had flyer posted though the door relating to our local Church. Some of the Information as follows:

Our ancient parish Church of St George in Arreton is at risk of closing forever though lack of funds.

St George's Church Arreton

For almost a millennium it has served our parish by baptisms, weddings and funerals, so even those of us who don’t worship there, its closure would be a very sad day indeed.

Yet to secure its presence would only need 20 pence per week or £10 per year from each adult in our parish.

St George's Church , Arreton

So we are inviting you to rise, like St George, to the challenge that faces our community and support us at our Patronal Festival on Sunday 27^th April 2014 by helping Fill the Font.

1,000 years of History

Everyone is welcome to visit this magnificent building which is a major part of the heritage of our village, our parish and our island.

Its many artefacts are testimony to the part the Island has played in English and world history from  its roots – an era that precedes the arrival of William the Conqueror, who gave the Isle of Wight to his kinsman, William Fitz Osborne.

St Georges Church became the Islands original Minster Church with a parish from the North coast to the South coast, with its priests ministering to this vast rural area.

The reformation brought about by the desire of Henry V111 to divorce and remarry led to the dissolution of the abbeys. As a result a bell cast in 1467 and originating from Quarry Abbey(IOW) now resides in St George’s Church, reminding us of the founding of the Church of England and the change of the status of this church from Roman Catholic to Anglican.

St George's Church , Arreton

What is there to see?

Have you seen the tombstone of the “Dairyman’s Daughter”?

Or the tomb of Harry Hawles who fought in the Battle of Agincourt?

Or the Saxon font that is still used?

Or the stained glass window specially designed to provide a permanent memory of those who served this country and lost so much during World War 2?

The local Burma Star Association funded this and members of the association and St George’s Church maintain a strong link with their surviving members through an annual VJ Service and regular coffee mornings and lunches that raise money in support of the Ghurkas.  

Then there is a “cannon bell” from 1699 that dates back to the time when bronze church bells were melted down to make cannons for naval sailing ships of the line in times of war with our European neighbours and rivals.

On Sunday 27^th April there will be a service at 11am to which all are welcome, followed by lunch in the community centre. The lunch cost £10 booking essential.

From 1pm to 6pm you are warmly invited to attend our

“FILL THE FONT” Day. We hope to fill the font with money!!

For a modest donation you can try your hand at bell ringing between 1pm and 3pm under the watchful eye of the Tower Captain.

There more things going on at this event if you wish to know more or want to make a donation please contact The Parochial Church Council of St George’s Arreton. c/o Boxtree, Main Road Arreton: Telephone: 01983 865357