« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the Isle of Wight »

On September 25, 2026, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight is the largest island off the southeast coast of England in the English Channel, located 5–8 kilometers off the coast of Hampshire.

The Isle of Wight (ancient Vecta) was the last region of Anglo-Saxon England to adopt Christianity. Until the late 7th century, it remained a stronghold of the paganism of the Germanic Jutes. In 686, the island was conquered by King Caedwalla of Wessex, who gave a quarter of the land to Bishop Wilfrid of York to support missionary work to Christianize the local population. The memory of the first martyrs for Christ—the holy brothers Arwald, brothers of the island's ruler—has survived to this day. 

They were captured, condemned by King Caedwalla, and baptized on the eve of their execution. In the following centuries, until the Great Schism of 1054, Christianity on the Isle of Wight developed within the undivided Church as part of the Diocese of Winchester. During this period, a network of early parish communities formed, churches were built, and spiritual life was closely linked to the pan-British ascetic saints of the time. The island retains some of its oldest churches, which laid the foundation for the region's distinctive Christian identity.

Upon arrival on the island, Bishop Matthew and his entourage were met by Archpriest Joseph Skinner, Dean of the Diocesan District of South West England, and Sarah Skinner.

The first stop on the itinerary was a visit to the ancient All Saints Church in the village of Godshill, built in the 14th century on the site of an older church.  The main attraction of this church is the rare medieval fresco "Lily Cross" in St. Stephen's Chapel (circa 1450). It depicts Christ crucified not on a wooden cross, but on the branches of a blooming lily. During the Reformation, the fresco was whitewashed to save it from destruction and was only rediscovered in the 19th century.

The next pilgrimage destination was the ancient church of the holy martyr Boniface of Fulda (baptized Winfrid, † 754), Archbishop of Mainz, Dokkum, and Crediton, and Apostle to Germany, located in the village of Bonchurch. The building that still stands today dates back to 1070. It was rebuilt by Norman monks from an earlier Saxon church. A 12th-century fresco has been partially preserved on the north wall of the church. 

The pilgrims then visited the memorial cross dedicated to the family of the last Emperor of All Russia, the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II. The monument, designed by Russian sculptor Elena Bezborodova, was erected in East Cowes in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their martyrdom. The Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov Society, a British organization, initiated and organised the installation. Nearby is the royal residence, Osborne House, where the future Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her sister Elizabeth (granddaughters of Queen Victoria) often spent time as children, and where the entire royal family visited the island on an official visit in 1909. His Grace performed a short prayer service by the cross.

That same evening, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated Great Vespers and spoke with Orthodox residents of the Isle of Wight.

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