It lies in the hollow and climbs the sharp slopes on a switchback hill on the Yarmouth road. We found its thatched roofs showing through masses of fruit blossom, the grey tower of the church rising grandly above. It is the oldest tower in the island, and has been saved by the engineering genius of the 20th century, for it was found that it was standing in 10 feet of clay and water, and the foundations have been re-laid in concrete. Here on a small scale the miracle of the saving of Winchester Cathedral has been accomplished. The walls of the tower are five feet thick and it stands 20 feet square. The sturdy Norman doorway has a sculptured tympanum in which is a man looking very much like the Mr Noah of our nurseries, standing between two lions with tails curved above their backs. He is probably Daniel.

The spacious church has the splendid simplicity of the 13th century builder, with a lofty tower arch, a noble arcade on slender pillars of porphyry, and tracery windows with rare oval lights. The chancel belongs to the beginning of the 14th century. The screen made from ancient timbers is in memory of Thomas Hollis, who was sexton here
for 55 years until just before the Great War. The reredos is made of old linen fold panelling, and the remains of the i7th century altar table. The Jacobean pulpit has carved brackets and two rows of carved panels. The wooden crucifix by the pulpit was found among old rubbish. The roof timbers of the nave and the south porch of stone are both 500 years old. Two faint sculptures are fading away after 700 years; they are on the gravestone by the south door, and are carved with shields and spears and a helmet. It is thought the helmet may mark the grave of Pagan Trenchard, a knight who lived here when men were still talking of William Rufus.

Text courtesy of: Southern Life (UK)