There are still more than twenty Methodist Churches/Chapels on the Isle of Wight, Rookley having been the first Bible Christian Society on the Isle of Wight when it was built in 1859. Many of these village chapels survive with only very small congregations, but they often form a key focal point to their communities. Rookley is situated geographically in the centre of the Island and although it has a small congregation, some travel in from as far as Ryde, East Cowes, Newport etc.
In December 2008, the renovation of the Chapel building was completed and more recently, in May 2011, double glazed windows and doors were fitted to the Sunday School Hall.
Formerly parts of the parishes of Arreton and Godshill, since 1984 the village of Rookley has been a civil parish in its own right. It is located on the Isle of Wight some three miles south of Newport, very near to the centre of the island.
Rookley has a country park on the site of the last working Isle of Wight brickworks. There is a pub at the country park and another, a short distance from the village. The latter was the centre of the island's smuggling trade in the 18th century.
To find the location of this cache, you need to take a stroll around the small, triangular village green to collect some clues.
How many lines of text are on Maurice Hingley’s memorial seat? - A
On the time capsule towards which number does Bembridge point? – B
About how many children were at the school when it closed in 1958? – CD
What is the date that was found on a beam in Hart’s Farm? – 1EF5
In which year was “Les” born? - 1GH5
Linda Holman the founder of 'Art on the Green' was born in 194I
The village map is based upon the OS Map Revised in 190J
Cache is a micro cylinder in a small camo bag and can be found at the following co-ordinates –
N 5B C(D+F).(G-J)DI
W 001 (E-D)(I-H) .GEB
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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