17. Explore St Mary’s Church – Alverstoke (18 Sept)

Now a beautiful Victorian Gothic church, at the heart of our local community, with well-detailed architecture and extensive history.

Whether a regular worshipper, or interested in a church building for its historical interest, a guided tour will bring to life this stunning church was largely rebuilt between 1863 and 1885 featuring a notable tower added in 1905 to commemorate the South African (Boer) War, with the tower housing eight bells.

The church served an historically significant area, owned by the Bishops of Winchester. Although not in the Domesday Book, the first known reference to the church is 1122, with legends suggesting a much earlier Saxon church or an 1130 founding by Bishop Henry de Blois. There was a major Victorian rebuilding in 1834, 1863 and 1885. Records for the Parish date back to 1559 and records are held in the Portsmouth City Records Office.

The sanctuary once held the remains of the Spanish Queen Donna Maria Francesca D’Asis De Bourbon until 1885. Another famous name is connected with St Mary’s Church Alverstoke namely Bishop Samuel Wilberforce (son of slavery abolitionist Willian Wilberforce). Samuel became Rector of St Mary’s Alverstoke in 1840.

All of this fascinating history, and much more, will be explained by guides in this tour of local history right on your doorstep.

Duration of Tour 60 minutes.

Advance Registration is required: Max 20 people per tour/session. You may book up to 2 tickets per booking.

To complete your registration please include your name, contact telephone number, email and post code

Please complete registration within 10 minutes. After this, the reservation we're holding will be released to others.

Alternative dates: If your first choice of date or time is fully booked, you can either add your name to the waitlist or return to the booking page of our website and choose again.

FAQs and other information

Please arrive 10 mins before the tour start time. The tour will be both inside the church and in the adjacent graveyard (suitable shoes needed).

Accessibility: For full accessibility options and facilities available, please go to 17. Explore St Mary's Church - Alverstoke - Gosport Heritage Open Days

Children: Accompanied children welcome.