PARK AND CEMETERY. 
231 
WHIPPINGHAM CHURCH, ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND. 
Whippingham church, known also as the Queen’s 
church, as her Majesty Queen Victoria, often wor- 
ships there, is but a few miles distant from the 
Royal residence, Osborne, Isle of Wight. In 
former years the Queen worshiped there almost al- 
together, then for a time, not so often, but within 
a year or two past, since the death of her son-in- 
law, Prince Henry of Battenburg, whose remains 
are enclosed in a vault within the church, her visits 
are again frequent. 
The churches of the Isle of Wight, especially on 
the south coast, are among the most ancient of En- 
gland, and present the most interesting sights 
of the many the country affords. Some of them 
date back to the landing of the 
early Christians. The old one 
at Bonchurch, for instance, is 
supposed to owe its origin to 
those pioneers of Christianity 
and civilization, being one of 
the very first erected in Great 
Britain. 
The present Whippingham 
church occupies the site of an 
older one, on the side of a low 
hill which slopes to the Medina 
river. Looking on the beauti- 
ful edifice one can almost for- 
give the sacrifice of the old 
structure. It was erected in 
1861, after designs by the late 
Prince Consort. Associated as 
it is to royalty, a something dear 
to all Englishmen, it is much 
visited on that account, aside from its merits in an 
architectural way. 
To add to its attractions it is situated along a 
beautiful country road, well wooded, as, indeed, 
are most all parts of the Island. The Queen’s pew 
is approached by a private door in the chancel, and 
over it is a handsome white marble monument to 
the late Prince Consort. Princess Beatrice, 
Princess Henry of Battenburg, was married in this 
church, and now that the remains of the Prince lie 
within its precincts, there are annual memorial ser- 
vices held there. 
It is not uncommon to hear it said that no peo- 
ple uses cut flowers on such occasions as lavishly as 
we do. Before me is a newspaper clipping of the 
last memorial services held there, and certainly the 
tomb must have been hidden beneath a wilderness 
of flowers. It will interest many if I enumerate 
some of the pieces. Her Majesty brought a wreath 
composed of calla lillies and white azaleas, studded 
with crimson tulips. The widow. Princess Henry 
of Battenburg, a chaplet composed of ivy and lilies- 
of-the-valley. The four children of the late Prince 
brought respectively an anchor, a cross, a heart 
and a wreath, each being made up of solanum, tu- 
lips and immortelles. Among other offerings were 
these, a wreath of double white primula and 
crimson tulips; a wreath of calla lilies and blue vio- 
lets. Orchids, pancratiums and azaleas were also 
mentioned. Over the altar stood a magnificent cross 
of callas, rising seven feet, and above it was sus- 
pended a wreath of lily-of-the-valley, while the space 
on each side was lightly hung with strings of com- 
mon ivy. 
In the churchyards of the many churches I vis- 
whippingham church, isuh ok wight, kngland. 
ited, as well as in the cemeteries, I saw abundant 
evidence of the use of flowers, and many of the 
combinations were most beautiful. The pretty blue 
lobelia thrives so well there that it is much used 
and one can imagine how nicely this would tend to 
make pleasing contrasts with other flowers. The 
filling of urns and vases with fresh cut flowers 
though well in evidence, seemed to me hardly as 
common as with us, more attention being given to 
the setting out of flowering plants. 
“Still bloom, such flowers for her dear sake, 
I love 3'e all the more 
That she has winged her mj-stic flight 
To Heaven’s eternal shore.” 
There is certainly something in flowers which 
awakens our better nature, or why do we associate 
them so much with those we have lost? I have 
written much on the beautiful Isle of Wight, so’ 
that my readers can realize what a delightful spot 
it is, and how well worthy a prolonged visit. 
Joseph Meehan. 
