St Georges Church - Arreton - 1,000 years of History

St Georges Church - Arreton - 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.

St Georges Church

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 George's Church became the Island's original Minster Church with a parish that stretched 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 VIII to divorce and remarry led to the dissolution of the abbeys. As a result, a bell cast in 1467 and originating from Quarr Abbey 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 Georges Church

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 a Saxon font that is still used?

Or the stained glass window specially designed to provide a permanent memory with 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 maintains 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.

St Georges Church - Winter 2010