Christ Church, Sandown, church in Sandown, Isle of Wight, UK
Christ Church is a Grade II listed building in Sandown, built in 1845, featuring solid stone walls with a simple tower and steeply pitched roof typical of the period. Inside, wooden pews lead toward the altar, while tall windows allow light to filter through the traditional layout and create a warm interior space.
The church was built in 1845 as the first of its kind in Sandown, marking an important milestone for the growing town. Its graveyard holds burials spanning different periods of history, including military personnel from World Wars and Rev. William Darwin Fox, a naturalist and distant relative of Charles Darwin.
The church is known locally for its Princess Royal Chapel, named after Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria, who visited and left a stained glass window as a gift. This royal connection remains a source of pride for the community that gathers here.
The church is located in the heart of Sandown and is easily accessible on foot from the town center. The grounds and graveyard are open for visitors to explore during daylight hours, and the site is well-maintained for comfortable access.
The graveyard contains a memorial for the wreck of HMS Eurydice, a shipwreck that inspired a poem by the writer Gerard Manley Hopkins. This connection between maritime history and English literature makes the site particularly meaningful for those interested in both subjects.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.