St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church, Brownsea Island, was built by Colonel Waugh for the workers on the island, and the Villa (now used by Dorset Wildlife Trust) was intended to be used as a vicarage. The foundation stone was laid in 1853, and the church was consecrated in 1854. It is owned by the Church of England and services are held every Sunday at 3pm from Easter until September.
The church has not changed much since it was built. It still has no electricity or running water. The church can only be lit by candlelight, and the organ is pumped by hand. Each owner adapted the church in some way. George Cavendish-Bentinck MP decorated it beautifully, donating many valuable works of art to it, making it a treasured place of worship for the islanders.
Brownsea's Church Organ
Candle Chandelier
The graves in the churchyard belong to islanders who have lived and worked here. The well in the churchyard is the grave of Cavendish-Bentinck and his wife, Penelope. The Van Raalte chapel on the side of the church was a later addition, and it contains an effigy of Charles Van Raalte.
Van Raalte Chapel
Cavendish-Bentinck Well
The tower is 50 feet tall, and when it was built, there were 4 bells. Since then, another 4 have been added. When the church was in regular use, the bells would be rung and could be heard all the over the island, to remind the islanders that the service would start soon. The bells are still rung, you may be lucky enough to hear them if you visit.
St Mary's Church Interior
Evensong was held at 3.30pm on a Sunday, and the whole island community came together for it. After services in summer, Mrs Van Raalte organised a tea outside the castle for all the islanders and her guests. Jack Battrick recalls:
‘Scarlet jellies, huge cakes, castle-baked bread and Brownsea Fam cheese, venison pies and relish and pickles adorned the tables and were washed down very agreeably with tea and west country cider.’
Gallery
