We also paid a visit to the Old Boniface Church.
Legend has it that monks from the Abbey of Lyra, in Normandy, crossed over to the
Island, and landed at Monks' Bay. They built a small curious edifice on the woody
plateau where the Old Church now stands and dedicated it to St. Boniface. It is
said that they chose for their site the ruins of a Saxon Church, and this is
supported by the fact that they dedicated their Church to a Saxon Saint, though
they themselves were Normans.
The Old Church
The Church is only 48ft in length by 12ft wide, and it is the type of a private
chapel. The Chancel and the south door are examples of the earliest Norman
architecture, the door made of planks placed horizontally within, perpendicularly
without, and studded with nails.
More pictures of the Old Church
Entrance to the Church
Inside the Church
The Old Church at Bonchurch is not Saxon, but Norman. This is explained by
another story, which tells us that in the 11th Century, monks from Lyre Abbey,
Normandy landed in nearby Monks Bay, named after their arrival, in order to
administer the collection of tithes, rents etc. of the six Island churches owned
by Lyre Abbey.
The Monks are believed to have discovered a ruined Saxon church, and as an act
of thanksgiving for safely crossing the channel, rebuilt it, dedicating it to
the Saxon Saint. The Old Church was replaced in 1848 by the New Church of Saint
Boniface, but not demolished. Every 5th June, Saint Boniface Day, a special
candle-lit service is held there.
Now would you love to attend a candle-lit service in the Old Church? I would.
Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />