Saint Hubert’s
St. Hubert’s is a Grade 1 Listed Building which dates from at least 1053. It is situated on a hillside and in the middle of a field in the attractive natural landscape of the Idsworth Valley within the South Downs National Park.
The features of the building and its fittings are remarkably unspoilt and include important medieval wall paintings
Services
Services are held every Sunday at 9.30 am (unless advertised otherwise) and Morning Prayer is at 9.00 am on Fridays. Particular highlights of the year include a candlelit Midnight Mass at Christmas and a Dawn Vigil at Easter.
Candlelit Midnight Service for Christmas
Easter Dawn Vigil
The church is open to visitors every day – 9 am to 6 pm from 1st April until 30th September and 9 am to 4 pm from 1st October to 31st March. Many people comment on its special quality of peace and tranquility.
Ministry and Mission
Kidsworth
Our ministry for families.
Find out more by clicking the button below.
Community
St. Hubert’s has strong links with its local community and it also welcomes many visitors – some travel long distances to feel part of its history and culture whilst others stop by on the popular walking route which passes alongside.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) actively encourages widening community engagement and, on this and in relation to its repair and conservation programme, it has the valued support of The Friends of the Church of St Hubert’s Idsworth Trust, a separate charity which was formed in 2016.
In addition to the regular pattern of traditional services and the mindful drawing sessions organised by the PCC, the Friends have an annual programme of events at the church. In 2023, this will include the popular musical picnic and an art exhibition. Information concerning all events at the church can be found on the Calendar page of this website.
History
St. Hubert’s is a Saxo-Norman church. The history of the present building goes back to at least 1053 when, in the last testament of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, and as part of the Manor of Chalton, it was granted to his son, Harold Godwinson (later King Harold). However, archaeological evidence indicates that there may have been a much earlier stone structure on the site which would not be surprising given it is known that there has been human activity in the Idsworth Valley since prehistoric times.
The church is renowned for its beautiful simplicity and a distinctive feature is the legibility of its development over the centuries. The C11 nave has a small Norman window and a blocked Norman doorway and there is an incised medieval sundial on the exterior. The chancel was added in the 12C or 13C; the nave was widened on the south side in the early 16C and first evidence of the porch was in the 1860s. The vestry and the organ gallery were added in 1912-1913 during a major restoration under the direction of the Architect H S Goodhart-Rendel when the intricate plaster ceiling in the chancel was also formed.
Among the historical features within the church are the medieval wall paintings which have been dated to the 1330s and which are considered to be the most important series in a Hampshire church outside Winchester. Other notable features are a C14 octagonal font, a C17 pulpit and C18 canopy and C18 box pews. On the walls, there is a list of the Rectors of Chalton and Idsworth going back to 1305, a record of a meeting which was held in March 1795 to agree seating arrangements within the church and, on the inner face of the chancel arch, there is reference to repairing work having been undertaken in 1793 and 1824 with a painted Royal Coat of Arms of George III.
The church was originally dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul but the dedication was changed when the medieval wall paintings were discovered in the 1860s as it was thought, then, that the upper panel referred to the life of St. Hubert. It is now considered that it depicts the life of St. John the Baptist with the addition of the medieval legend of the “Hairy Anchorite”.
The church also has a very fine fresco painted in medieval style by Fleur Kelly which was commissioned to celebrate the recent millennium.
St. Hubert’s is beautiful, fascinating, peaceful and well worth a visit. There are leaflets about its history both in the church and in the dispenser alongside the gate at the bottom of the footpath and there is also a quiz for children to complete. We look forward to seeing you and to reading your comments in the visitors’ book.
How to find Saint Hubert’s
Finchdean, Waterlooville PO8 0BA
Please note that, owing to its location, there is no postal service to the church. Postal correspondence should be addressed to the BCI Benefice Office, Blendworth Lane,
Waterlooville, PO8 0AA
Repair and Conservation
The PCC of St. Hubert’s, Idsworth is bringing forward a four-phase programme of repair and conservation work to ensure that this lovely church continues to be properly maintained for future generations to enjoy. For further details, please see the Repair and Conservation page or pick up a leaflet at the church.
St Hubert Airborne pictures by Vertigo Photography www.vertigophoto.co.uk