The Thatched Church, Freshwater Bay
St Agnes' Church, dating back to 1908, sits in the far west of the Island at Freshwater, on one side looking out onto the fields of the surrounding countryside, and on the other looking towards the community it serves. Prior to the decision being made to build a church on this site, services were held in the “Iron Room” in the Square but the building was unsuitable in every way—too cold in winter and too hot in summer, and looked unattractive outside.
Land for the new church was given by Hallam Tennyson, eldest son of the Victorian poet laureate, who lived at nearby Farringford. The architect, Isaac Jones, who was born at Carisbrooke, designed the church based on a water colour painting of the kind of building he would like for a real Church in the Bay made by the Rector of Freshwater at that time, the Reverend A.J. Robertson.
Local builders, C & W White Brothers were commissioned to erect the building. They used stone from an old and derelict farmhouse on Hooke Hill, Freshwater, the reputed birthplace of the natural philosopher, architect and polymath Robert Hooke (1635-1703). The farmhouse date stone was incorporated into the vestry wall and can be seen from the outside. This can mislead people into thinking the church dates from the 17th century when it was actually built in Edwardian times. The roof was thatched with Norfolk reeds by Messrs Boulton and Paul of Norwich, and was probably the first building to be thatched with reed on the island. The porch was a gift from Tennyson’s daughter Emily in memory of her mother.
Hallam's wife Audrey, Lady Tennyson, suggested that the church be should be dedicated to Saint Agnes, as she had always admired this young and beautiful Saint, and it was consecrated on 12 August 1908 by the Bishop of Winchester.
Little has changed inside the church over its lifetime, although the three-arched carved wooden screen was added by the Revd. T.G. Devitt. who was curate from 1942 to 1946.
The original roof lasted many years, but in 1962, it was necessary to re-thatch, and this was done by an Islander at the cost of £600 – the reeds again came from Norfolk. In 2008 the roof was again in need of restoration and an appeal to raise £40,000 was launched. Donors who sponsored a bundle of new thatch for £10 had their names entered in a commemorative book. The appeal was part of St. Agnes’ centenary celebrations which culminated in a choral concert and thanksgiving service held in August, and was attended by Alan Titchmarsh, the Island High Sheriff that year.
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The published co-ordinates will take you to a plaque commemorating “A Truly Remarkable Man”. Use information found here to calculate the co-ordinates for the final.
A = Age of appointment as Surveyor
B = Number of letters in the surname of his friend
C = Number of car parks shown on the map
D= Number of letters in the name of the river on the map
E = Number for Afton Marsh on the map
F = Number on the map relating to where stone to build the church reputedly came from
Cache can be found at N50 A+B+C.D(B+C)(B-C) W001 A+F-E.(B-C)(E-F)F
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