Aug
26
2009
St. Thomas Church Newport
Author: SamNewport is one of the beautiful coastal towns on the Isle of Wight, south of the Englis h mainland. It has been settled and inhabited since at least the Roman period and remains of these settlements have been found on the island. Newport is one of the primary tourist centers on the island, and guests staying in a Newport hotel are attracted to the unique charm and beauty of this town.
It has many cultural and architectural landmarks that attract many visitors and contribute to the overall ambiance of the town. St. Thomas’ Church is one of its historic features, and with all old buildings, it has an interesting history. It was originally constructed in the 12th century and was dedicated to Thomas Becket, St. Thomas of Canterbury. This remained the name of this incredible church until the early 16th century. Under the rule of Henry VIII, Becket was declared to have been a traitor and at that time Canterbury was removed from the name. Interestingly, St. Thomas remained, and it is still called the St. Thomas Church. This left the title seeming somewhat ambiguous, though the common association is now given to Thomas the Apostle.
The church also has some famous burials and remains. Sir Edward Horsey, who died in 1582, is buried in the abbey, and so is Princess Elizabeth. She was the daughter of Charles I and Henrietta Maria. She was born in 1635 and died when she was only 14 years old. Her image has been immortalized in a painting. Shortly after the birth of her young brother Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, the two children were painted together. Unfortunately, he also died at a very young age, passing away when he was only 20. In 1856 a memorial for Princess Elizabeth was made by Carlo Marochetti and was presented by Queen Victoria.