
St Peter's Church
Originally part of the large parish of St Helens, work began on constructing St Peter's in 1859 and it became the parish church for Seaview in 1907. In 1858 William Anthony Glynn had "demised" a plot of land, known as Six Acres, for the annual rent of £9-7-6d and 2/6d in lieu of Tithe Rent, to erect a good and sufficient stone or brick building to be used as a Church or Chapel of Ease, in connection with the Church of England only. The architect, Thomas Hellyer, was responsible for a number of churches on the Isle of Wight and in the Portsmouth area, and was the leading Wight architect at this time.
The church originally had a spire on the north aisle, but this was removed in the late 1960s when it became unsafe. The Lady Chapel and south aisle were added in 1921 to serve as a memorial to the men of the village who had fallen in the 1914-1918 war. Since then a number of additions have been built in matching stone, and entrance into the church is now via a 1984 link block between the church and church hall. On the south side of the church is a very pleasant commemorative rose garden.
The Church was designated as a Grade II Listed building on 18 May 1972 for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural Design: nave and north aisle were designed in Gothic style in Swanage stone by the notable local architect Thomas Hellyer of Ryde and subsequent additions have been in matching style and materials.
* Interior Interest: complete interior fittings including a fine iron chancel screen by the firm of Jones and Willis and a number of stained glass windows, one by Morris and Co.
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