St George's Church, Arreton, Isle of Wight
St George's Church, Main Road, Arreton, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 3AA
St George's Church, Arreton, is one of the Isle of Wight’s most remarkable historic churches and is widely regarded as one of the island’s oldest parish churches. Its origins reach back to the late Saxon period, with parts of the west wall and early fabric believed to pre-date the Norman Conquest, while the building was enlarged and reshaped over the 12th and 13th centuries. The church was closely associated with Quarr Abbey from about 1150, reflecting the importance of Arreton as an early settlement and parish centre. Particularly notable are its Saxon and Norman survivals, its distinctive west tower with large angle buttresses, the elegant 13th-century chancel and south chapel, and a number of important interior memorials and later fittings. One of the most distinctive later features is the Burma Star memorial window, unveiled in 1992 and designed by Alan Younger, which commemorates those who served in the Burma Campaign. The three-light stained glass includes references to the British and Indian armies, the Gurkhas, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, reflecting the church’s strong military remembrance connection and its long association with the Isle of Wight branch of the Burma Star Association. Victorian restoration work in the 19th century helped preserve the building, and today its Grade I listed status recognises both its architectural significance and its long-standing place in the history of Arreton.
St George's Church, Main Road, Arreton, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 3AA