‘As one group’s narrative triumphs over others, anything that does not fit the dominant narrative is rejected.’

These are words taken from Johanna Strong’s podcast episode Winchester and Westminster: How did these churches forget Mary I? She explains how our desire to establish a strong Elizabethan historical memory has caused us to somewhat forget the reign of Mary I. While her reign was short-lived, it plays a very significant part within Britain’s royal and religious history. Not only this, but Mary also established important connections with various churches such as Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey as this episode goes on to explore. However, many have forgotten Mary’s connections with these great Churches across Britain. So, this got me thinking, what other churches have a forgotten royal past?

St Peter’s Church, Titchfield

Hampshire’s oldest Church dating from 680 AD, this in itself gives this Church great historical importance! Travelling to Titchfield via sea, Saint Wilfred came South from Northumbria and established St Peter’s Church with the aim of converting the local tribe to Christianity.

However, its St Peter’s forgotten royal connections that I found most intriguing. Throughout its long history, it has housed a variety of British monarchs. In 1349, Richard II and Queen Anne stayed at the Abbey which began its life in 1232. In the 15th century, Henry V stayed at the Abbey on his way to France, where he won the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Additionally, Charles I stayed in Titchfield before moving onto the Isle of Wight where he was later imprisoned.

Therefore, while this may seem like just a Church in a small village in Southern Hampshire, it has rich royal connections that span its long and impressive history!

St Mildred’s Church, Whippingham

St Mildred’s perhaps has the most significant royal association. The Church of England parish church of the village of Whippingham on the Isle of Wight, this Church is deeply connected to Queen Victoria and her wider family.

Many people have ventured to the Isle of Wight to see the splendid Osbourne House, the holiday home loved by Victoria and Albert. However, few are aware of the significance St Mildred’s had within their lives. Just a short ride from Osbourne House, St Mildred’s served as the parish church for this royal family.

The original church was dated from before the Domesday Book but was demolished. It was re-built by architect John Nash in 1804. Queen Victoria had visited and worshipped in this Church. However, once she had Osbourne House, she wanted a newer and more impressive church which she and her wider family could enjoy whilst on holiday. Working alongside architect A.J. Humbert, Prince Albert redesigned the Church. In 1854 the Chancel was rebuilt and the rest followed suit in 1860.

Other members of the family were also involved with the redesign. Princess Louise designed the stone font and her and her sister, Princess Beatrice, designed the carpet placed around the font. Princess Beatrice embroidered the carpet in Battenberg Chapel, an area within this Church. Victoria also left her mark as she gifted the stone used for the font, designed by her children, and a pair of wrought iron candelabra.

From Victoria’s journals we can gain an understanding of how long St Mildred’s took to rebuild. On Tuesday 29 May 1860 Victoria describes how she ‘drove to Whippingham, where, with due ceremonies we laid the 1st stone of the new part of the Church, the old part having all been pulled down’.

Not only this, but from her journals we can also gain an insight into Victoria’s opinions of the redesign. Complaining about the progress, Victoria later writes on Monday 19 August 1861 ‘the Church, which makes no progress’. Finally on Thursday 10 April 1862 she writes ‘the pretty Church at Whippingham, which is now quite finished, all but putting in the tiles on the floor’.

Although heavily involved in the redesign of the Church, unfortunately Prince Albert never lived to see his design completed. However, this only adds to the historical and royal significance of St Mildred’s. After his death in December 1861, Victoria erected a memorial in St Mildred’s in Albert’s name. Placed within the Church and unveiled in 1864, this monument consists of two angels holding a wreath of stars over a medallion of Prince Albert. Stars were an important symbol of remembered for Albert because they were found on the ceiling of the room in which he died at Windsor Castle. This was not uncommon behaviour from Victoria. As most are aware, after Albert’s death memorials dedicated to him appeared all over Britain, most notoriously The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens and The Royal Albert Hall, named in his memory.

In addition to Albert’s monument, there are also memorials to Prince Leopold, Victoria’s youngest son, Princess Alice, her second daughter and a tablet to the two sons of her eldest daughter, Prince Sigismund and Prince Waldemar. Upon her death, Victoria requested that her own blue chair and cushion for her feet were to be placed in the Royal Pew. It was installed by her son, King Edward VII who also established a tablet in her memory. Additionally, memorials to Victoria are present throughout the Church in the form of white marble reredos and copper and oak pulpit.

While for some St Mildred’s may seem a sight of remembrance, for others it is a sight of marriage. On 23 July 1885, Victoria’s youngest child Princess Beatrice married Prince Henry of Battenberg. This was the first time a royal bride had been married in an English parish church and is captured in vivid detail in Victoria’s journal entry. After marrying in St Mildred’s, the couple made Osbourne House their permanent home. In 1890, a private suit was built for them on the first floor of the new Dunbar Wing. When Prince Henry tragically passed away after contracting malaria in 1896 while campaigning on the Gold Cast in the Ashanti War, Victoria made the Battenberg Chapel into a shrine for him. This is where he is buried. When Princess Beatrice died in 1944, she was later buried with him.

It is known that Victoria visited and was particularly fond of St Mildred’s Church as it is mentioned on numerous accounts in her journals which span 1832 to 1901.

The first reference to St Mildred’s appears on Sunday 22 June 1845 whilst residing at Osbourne House. Talking about the Church Victoria writes, ‘we attended afternoon service at Whippingham Church, where Mama and I used to go so often 12 & 14 years ago’. This indicates that St Mildred’s was not only a place where Victoria took her own family, but it was also a place that she travelled to as a young child.

We can also obtain a sense of what the St Mildred’s was like at Christmas. Victoria’s entry on Sunday 25 December 1864 explains that she ‘went to afternoon service to Whippingham, where the Church was so prettily decorated with holly, but it was very dark & very cold’.

From Victoria’s journals we can gain invaluable insights into how often she frequented the Church, her opinions of it and a glimpse into what the Church looked like during Victorian Britain. Who would have thought that a Church on the Isle of Wight has such a fascinating past!

Romsey Abbey

In more recent years, Romsey Abbey has established royal associations as it is often visited by members of our own living royal family.

Second cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II; Lord Mountbatten is buried in Romsey Abbey after he was tragically assassinated by the IRA in 1979. As an important and well respected member of the royal family, he was visited every Advent by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from the year of their honeymoon up until 1980. It is unknown how frequently the Queen now visits. Nevertheless, this is another Church that is an important part of Britain’s royal history.

To learn more about Romsey Abbey’s fascinating past have a listen to Romsey Abbey; A Haven, an educational opportunity or a place of power? and The Heritage of Bell Ringing in Hampshire.

Before writing this post I was unaware of what, if any, royal connections I would find with our Churches in Hampshire. However, I was pleasantly surprised. As someone who is continuously fascinated with the Victorian period, it was amazing to learn about Victoria and Albert’s deep connection and love for St Mildred’s. Next time I am on the Isle of Wight I will definitely be visiting! As a historian I love learning about the past and discovering new things. I hope that this post has encouraged readers to reconsider their local area and the rich history that is often looming just around the corner.

Just as Johanna Strong highlighted the importance of challenging the traditional historical memory and narratives, this post has alluded to the notion that there are narratives and stories out there that have perhaps been lost through time. By researching in and rediscovering our fantastic local history, this post has shown that almost everything has a rich past worth remembering.

Photos:

‘flickr, St Peter’s Church, Titchfield’, accessed December 12, 2021, https://www.flickr.com/

‘flickr, St Mildred’s Church, Whippingham’, accessed December 12, 2021, https://www.flickr.com/