Religions

St Mary's Church stands on a very early Christian site, it is recorded, though difficult to prove, that during the 680’s Saint Wilfrid landed in Brading Harbour, raised the standard of the cross and preached to the heathen Islanders from this site and thus began the conversion of the Island. We do know that Wilfrid was Bishop of Ripon from 634-709, that he was at the Council of Whitby in 664 (which was largely responsible for the dating of Easter as we have it today.)

Various additions have been made to the church over the years, one being the Oglander Chapel. Named after the Oglander family who came to the Island in the wake of William the Conqueror. Sir John Oglander's will dated 10-11.1649 made provision for erecting a tomb for his father, Sir William, and himself. The family have been at Nunwell ever since. The Oglanders are descendants of the D’Oglande family of Valognes, in Normandy, one of whom came over as Marshal to William the Conqueror in 1066. After the family settled in the Island, records show that the name went through such changes as Doglondre and Doggelander before it took its present form.

The Brading Church tower having an unusual feature of being built on four piers of which there are supposedly only three others like it in England. Prior to 1887 the tower contained four bells which were sound but needed rehanging. In the Jubilee year of 1887 four smaller bells were added and the whole rehung to make a full octave. A niche in the wall above the west facing tower entrance undoubtedly contained a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was probably dislodged and smashed by the Cromwellians. Other signs of their desecration are to be seen inside the church. The stone spire rises from within the parapets of the tower. Its sides have a decided entasis, that is to say that they have been purposely built with a convexity or outward curve so as to correct the visual illusion of concavity.

In the churchyard beyond the south east corner of the church lies the gravestone of Little Jane Squibb of Little Jane's Cottage in The Mall. The cottage of the young cottager, (the original date of which is, however, unknown) has been the site of a thatched farm tenant‘s dwelling since the 16th. century.

Jane Squibb lived there and was immortalised in "Annals of the Poor" written by the Rev Legh Richmond, curate-in-charge of Brading and Yaverland 1757 to 1805. Jane used to visit his Sunday School classes held in Brading churchyard and church. She died of consumption aged 15 years on 30th January 1799.

Methodism grew out of the Anglican Church in the 18th century almost by default through the powerful and inspiring ministry of Rev. John Wesley who, incidentally, visited the Isle of Wight on more than one occasion while en-route to America. Talks are currently taking place, at a high level, aimed at re-uniting the two churches once again. However, the Methodist church is a world-wide organisation of very considerable proportions and our local church is typical in having a less structured and more free style of worship than the average Anglican church.

Methodism in Brading began with a certain Mary Toms from Cornwall receiving a call from God to come to the Island (of which she knew nothing), and to Brading in particular, as a missionary in the year 1823. She arrived during ‘Cowes Week’(!) and soon founded a Bible Christian Society here. She was later to marry a resident of Brading who, having become a Christian himself, opened a ‘preaching chapel’ in rented premises in West Street in the year 1837.

The present church was eventually built on what was then the edge of the village on a leased piece of land at the end of the ‘Wheatsheaf’ Pub garden and opened in 1867. The building is fairly typical of the period externally with an attractive mix of red and yellow brickwork. The ‘church’ is at street level with the hall below. The up-dated church interior is very attractive being fully carpeted with coloured chairs as opposed to the original pews.

During the early years, much valuable work was evidently carried on at the chapel including Sunday School and Band of Hope meetings and (as some old photos witness) there were annual family outings in the latest roofless coaches, or charabancs, as they were called. During the second world war the hall was used as an army canteen. After the war, however, the work slowly declined as members grew older, the earlier evangelical fire faded somewhat and the burden of an ageing building became too great. So, in 1967, exactly 100 years since it was opened, the church was closed for worship. However, also in that year, a number of young Christian couples who had recently come to live in the village, began to meet together for prayer. The fellowship grew and permission was eventually given to commence a massive D.I.Y. job on the premises which resulted in the lower hall (always referred to by Rev. John Dennington, Brading’s vicar at the time, as the "undercroft") being re-opened and dedicated in 1970. The church itself, at street level, was re-dedicated in 1972 following total renovation as mentioned above.

In the years since then, a large number of people, including many hundreds of youngsters, have attended the church for worship and Sunday School. In fact, the church has a special mission to the children of Brading having held both Scripture Union and locally organised summer Holiday Clubs and run Youth Clubs, Target Clubs, etc. Only God knows what this ministry has truly achieved but we have observed that many lives have been stabilised and protected from the worst dangers that youngsters are exposed to these days.

Our weekly activities centre on family worship on Sundays at 10.00 a.m. with Sunday School and Youth fellowship leaving part-way for their own classes. A "Rock Solid" club for youngsters of Middle School age (plus) is held fortnightly. Other services and events, including Sunday evening "Praise Times" are as announced.