West Ilsley
All Saints Church
SUNDAY SERVICES
| Sunday in the month | Time | Service |
|---|---|---|
1st Sunday |
9:30am |
Family Service - Communion |
2nd Sunday |
8.30am |
Holy Communion |
3rd Sunday |
No service |
(see links below for other services in the Benefice) |
4th Sunday |
11.00am |
Family Service - Communion |
WEB LINKS
Find out more about the nine churches in the East Downland Benefice.
For more on the Church of England's "A Church Near You" web site.
CONTACT DETAILS
For further information please contact:
The Revd John Toogood
Tel: 01635 247566
Email: cwando@btinternet.com
The Rev'd Lady (Denise) Brown
Tel: 01635 281 825
Email: denisefbrown@googlemail.com
You are welcome to visit the church and it is usually open during daylight hours.
CHILDREN'S CHURCH
Afterschool Service
Held at 4pm in the Church, once a term. Services are informal with songs to well-known tunes, participation from the children and a simple story to listen to. For further details please contact Liz Dray on 01635 281 688 or The Rev'd Lady (Denise) Brown 01635 281 825.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH
It is believed that a church has stood here since the 12th century.
The pulpit is made from oak panels that date from the Jacobean period.
On the west wall there was originally a singers’ gallery where the village band used to play.
The Italian Archbishop, Marco Antonio de Dominis fled to England in 1616 after a row with the Pope in Rome. He was appointed Dean of Windsor and Rector of West Ilsley by James I. He was also a scientist and his thesis on rainbows was a work of some prominence.
De Dominis was unpopular with local tenants as he extracted large rents until the villagers complained to the Church. In 1622 he recanted all his writing against the papacy and was excommunicated from England. He fled to Rome, was imprisoned by the Inquisition and after his death his body was dug up and publicly burned together with all his writings.
His successor, Dr Godfrey Goodman, entertained Charles I at West Ilsley Rectory during the Civil War.