FRIENDS OF ST HUBERT’S
Standing alone in a field in the beautiful Idsworth Valley, St Hubert’s is one of Hampshire’s most extraordinary historic churches.
For nearly a thousand years, it has witnessed the changing fortunes of England, survived the disappearance of the village it once served, and sheltered some of the country’s most remarkable medieval wall paintings.
Today, it remains a living place of worship, music, reflection, and welcome.
The Friends of St Hubert’s exist to help ensure that this remarkable little church continues to flourish for generations to come.
A thousand years of history. A future worth protecting.
A church with a thousand stories
The story of St Hubert’s reaches back to Anglo-Saxon England.
Idsworth was associated with the powerful Godwin family in the years before the Norman Conquest. Earl Godwin’s son Harold would become England’s last crowned Anglo-Saxon king, dying at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The church itself preserves evidence of its great age, with early medieval fabric and later additions that reflect centuries of changing religious and community life.
Its ancient stonework, historic furnishings, and remarkable setting offer a fascinating glimpse into England’s past.
The church that outlived its village
One of the most remarkable things about St Hubert’s is its isolation.
The church once served the medieval settlement of Idsworth, but over the centuries the village disappeared, leaving the church standing alone in the surrounding countryside.
The precise reasons for the settlement’s decline are uncertain, although the upheavals of medieval rural life, including the Black Death, may have played a part.
Today, the church remains a poignant reminder of a community whose homes and daily lives have long since vanished.
An extraordinary medieval treasure
Inside St Hubert’s are some of Hampshire’s most remarkable surviving medieval wall paintings.
Dating from the 14th century, they include scenes associated with the life and death of St John the Baptist, alongside other fascinating medieval imagery.
The paintings offer an extraordinary window into the beliefs, artistic traditions, and imagination of medieval England.
Their survival is especially precious. Across the country, countless medieval church paintings were lost or destroyed during later centuries.
At St Hubert’s, visitors can still encounter images created almost seven hundred years ago.
Protecting these paintings is one of the most important responsibilities facing those who care for the church today.
Discover St Hubert’s on film
Three thousand years of history. One remarkable place.
Our specially produced film tells the extraordinary story of St Hubert’s and the landscape around it.
Created in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth’s Heritage Hub, it explores the history, archaeology, art, and people that have shaped this special corner of Hampshire.
From the earliest human activity in the valley to the remarkable medieval church that survives today, the film brings the story of St Hubert’s vividly to life.
Whether you’ve visited many times or are discovering the church for the first time, we hope you’ll enjoy watching it.
A living church
For all its extraordinary history, St Hubert’s is much more than an ancient building.
It remains a living Anglican church, a place of worship, prayer, celebration, remembrance, and community.
Thousands of people visit each year, drawn by its history, its medieval paintings, its peaceful setting, and its growing programme of music.
Some come for faith. Others for history, architecture, music, or simply a few quiet moments.
All are welcome.
Our ambition is to ensure that St Hubert’s continues to be a place of spiritual, creative, historical, and community connection.
Why the Friends of St Hubert’s Matter
Surviving for nearly a thousand years is an extraordinary achievement. Ensuring that St Hubert’s survives for generations to come is our responsibility.
Caring for a Grade I listed church requires specialist conservation, ongoing maintenance, and considerable financial support.
Its ancient fabric needs constant attention. Its precious wall paintings must be protected. Essential repairs and improvements are needed to keep the building safe, welcoming, and accessible.
It costs approximately £160 every day to keep St Hubert’s open and cared for.
The Friends of St Hubert’s are being brought together to help meet these challenges.
Our purpose is simple: to support the preservation, care, and flourishing of this remarkable church, so that future generations can enjoy everything that makes it special.
Be part of its future
Surviving for nearly a thousand years is an extraordinary achievement. Ensuring that St Hubert’s survives for generations to come is our responsibility.
Caring for a Grade I listed church requires specialist conservation, ongoing maintenance, and considerable financial support.
Its ancient fabric needs constant attention. Its precious wall paintings must be protected. Essential repairs and improvements are needed to keep the building safe, welcoming, and accessible.
It costs approximately £160 every day to keep St Hubert’s open and cared for.
The Friends of St Hubert’s are being brought together to help meet these challenges.
Our purpose is simple: to support the preservation, care, and flourishing of this remarkable church, so that future generations can enjoy everything that makes it special.