After finally getting the gang up and going, Shan talked the group into visiting Whipppingham Church.
Dedicated to St. Mildred, an Anglo-Saxon Princess The foundations date back to before the Norman Conquest in 1066 The present church was designed by Prince Albert, and built in 1860 The church contains the actual chair that Queen Victoria used when she attended services, and a candelabra given by her to the church
When Queen Victoria came to live at Osborne it was decided that a new parish church should be built replacing the original John Nash building of 1804. Prince Albert worked with Albert Jenkins Humbert who later designed Sandringham. The result was a church with five pinnacles. Inside there are impressive rose windows and a large octagonal lantern in the centre. Princess Beartrice was married here to Prince Henry of Battenberg, uncle of Lord Louis Mountbatten. Both in turn served as Governor of the Isle of Wight and were buried at Whippingham Church.
Inside looking toward the altar
The Royal Pew
The Saxon Stone
The Anglo-Saxon carving set into the west wall of the porch. This is the only tangible relic above ground of the Norman church which stood on this site.
At least Gal wore her Nikies today which made a big difference in her temperament. She didn't drive us all crazy complaining about how much walking we were doing and how much her feet hurt. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
