For more information about the history of this charming village please visit the link:http://www.holdenhurstvillage.co.uk/
Please take the time to explore the lovely church and the gravestones of some familiar named locals within the churchyard.
In 1829 the Old Church was in a bad state of repair, so it was decided to draw up plans for a new Church, as the population of the parish was 620 and the Old Church could only accommodate 200. As efforts to obtain a piece of land in a more central position in the parish failed, it was decided to accept the piece of land near the Old Church, kindly given by Sir G. I. Tapps. One estimate was for £1,003 using materials from the Old Church as well as new stone. The buttresses were to be of stone from the Old Church, as were also the jambs and arches of the doors
The foundation stone for the New Church was laid on 18th July 1833, by the second Earl of Malmesbury. It was consecrated and opened for Worship on 9th November 1834, by the Bishop of Winchester, being dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. The seating accommodation was for 472 persons. At this time, of finishing and furnishing the New Church, the Font met with a strange adventure, instead of being brought from the Old Church to the New, it was accidentally carted away and lost, until discovered some years later in a garden at Verno, between Hinton Admiral and Christchurch. It was brought back to Holdenhurst and restored to its rightful position.
The Old Saxon Church was situated about 100 yards down the lane to the right of Bramble Cottage (c 1660). Today in 2007 there still remains the three outer walls of the church which now form part of two new properties built within. If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
**** Congrats Dorset John for FTF****