History
St Helen’s Church is in fact the third church for the parish of St Helen’s, where Bishop Wilfred first stepped ashore on the Isle of Wight in the year 704AD.
Brading is thought to be the site of the first church and baptism on the Island, and it was St Wilfred’s chaplain, Hildila, who oversaw the building of the first church in St Helen’s on the Duver.
This church was rebuilt in the 12th century by the Cluniac Priests who had founded St Helen’s Priory, but became part of the parish of St Mary’s Brading, after the dissolution of the monasteries. No record exists of the date of separation, however, St Helen’s was established as a parish in its own right by the time the new church ‘on the hill’ was consecrated in 1719.
The old Church tower (now a seamark) can still be seen on the beach at St Helen’s Duver.
In 1820, the Church was rebuilt (all but the Chancel) at a cost of £500 and it also seems probable that the present tower was also completed at this time. In 1862, the Chancel was almost completely renewed, resulting in the Church as we now see it.
More information can be found in The History of St. Helen's by David Lowe and Sheila White. The years covered are from consecration in 1719 to 1977.
The Church Today
Today, St Helen’s Church is part of the Haven Benefice, made up of four parishes, namely: St Peter’s, Seaview; St Helen’s, St Helens; St Mary the Virgin, Brading; and St John the Baptist, Yaverland.
We are delighted to welcome Reverend Karen Wilson as our new Priest-in-Charge at the Haven Benefice. Together we wish to work on the survival of St Helen's Church so that it can thrive as a place for the community. The aim of the Friends is to maintain the fabric of the Church and its environs.
More recently, the church has benefitted from some changes made to the interior including a change of flooring in the nave, nave access to the organ gallery, toilet installation, hide-away kitchen facility at the west end, and moveable pews in the nave giving versatility in the use of the nave space.
There is an overflow car park to cater for populous events.
For The Future
Under the Haven Benefice Mission Action Plan, and speaking only for St Helens, there are many things we would like to do in the future.
Under active consideration are:
Off-road access from Nettlestone School – concerts and services
Pilgrims and retreat participants vising church and labyrinth, and St Catherine’s Chapel
School groups visiting the church (children’s packs) and graveyard
Scouts and children’s groups, bug hunting, pond dipping in churchyard and St Helens Duver
Create a children's space in the old office shed, with equipment for groups to use
Forest church / muddy church group
Car park to make more concerts, exhibitions and large weddings and funerals possible
Marquee space for weddings and events
Potential burial ground extension
Allotments linked to our community fridge project in the Community Centre and Eco Church mission