Holy Cross Church, Binstead

Holy Cross Church in Binstead is a Church of England parish church in Binstead, on the edge of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Its roots reach back to the late 11th century, and its story has always been tied to the local stone quarries. The building is Grade II listed (since 24 October 1950) and belongs to the Diocese of Portsmouth.

Why is there a church in Binstead?

The church is thought to have been built for quarry workers. One account describes a church for the quarrymen dating from around 1150. Quarr stone, dug close by, went into Winchester Cathedral and Quarr Abbey, so this modest village church stands in a place that mattered to medieval building across southern England.

What to look for in the architecture

The chancel is the oldest part. Its herringbone masonry points to a Norman date, while the chancel windows are mid-13th century, showing the building was remodelled in that period. It began as a single-cell church, as a painting by John Nixon shows.

The nave was rebuilt in 1843-45 by Thomas Hellyer, and a north aisle was added in 1875. The bellcote dates from 1925 and holds a pre-Reformation bell believed to have come from the Cistercian Quarr Abbey, now in ruins.

The 1969 fire

On 7 June 1969 the church was seriously damaged by fire. It was restored and rededicated in February 1971. Many of the stained-glass windows were replaced with designs by Lawrence Lee, so medieval walls sit alongside modern art glass.

The churchyard and the "Idol"

Above the churchyard gateway, which reuses Norman mouldings, sits a carved figure known locally as "the Idol" or "Saxon Idol". The churchyard is also the resting place of Thomas Sivell, a smuggler shot by Portsmouth Customs officers in 1785, a small detail that appeals to anyone interested in local history.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Holy Cross Church in Binstead? Its origins lie in the late 11th century; the chancel shows Norman features and its windows date from the mid-13th century.

Is it a listed building? Yes, it has been Grade II listed since 24 October 1950.

What is most interesting in the grounds? The "Saxon Idol" carving over the gateway, the grave of the smuggler Thomas Sivell, and the pre-Reformation bell in the bellcote.

Has the church suffered damage? Yes, a serious fire on 7 June 1969. It was restored and rededicated in February 1971.

Where is it? In Binstead, next to Ryde, on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight, England.