Hayling Island is one of the South's Holy Islands; a very special place. The Roman invaders chose Hayling to build a Temple, a quite remarkable structure. Remnants of this Temple can be identified in the walls of the two of the oldest churches on Hayling Island, St Peter's and St Mary's.
Archaeological research indicates that the Roman Temple had been built on the site of an Iron Age sacrificial site created at the end of the First Century BC. Further evidence of Hayling Island, with its wonderful atmosphere and beauteous surroundings has been identified as a special place in the Spiritual Sense, is to be found in the church yard of St Mary's which encloses a number of ancient Yew trees one of which is at least 2000 years old. (One of the oldest Yew trees in the country) This suggests that this was the site of Pagan worship.
The oldest Church on the island is St Peter's Northney which was built as a chapel in approximately 1140 connected to the mother church situated in South Hayling the original mother church no longer exists, victim of the drowning of a large part of the Island in 1324.
When William the Conqueror triumphed in 1066 he gave Hayling Island to Benedictine Monks in Normandy. The present Mother Church of St Mary was erected by a small group of Monks sent from the Great Abbey of Jumièges situated on the banks of the Seine.
The monks acted as land managers and farmers. They built the large Chancel of the present St Mary's for prayer and shelter. Later the Nave of the church was built to serve the needs of the local people. In 1253 the Pope appointed the first Vicar to serve the people of the Island. The building contains some remarkable architectural features which reflect the characteristics of the Abbey Church in Normandy
The churchyards of St Peter's and St Mary's enclose many interesting graves from the Historical point of view for example at St Peter's you will find a grave to her Serene Highness Princess Yourievsky who was a member of the Russian Royal family. In St Mary's churchyard there is the grave of Alexandra McKey who discovered the `Mary Rose'.
There are a number of other places of worship on the Island.
The United Reformed Church built in the 1950's enjoys a prime position.
The original church built from rock and sand taken from the beach was destroyed by a bomb during the Second World War. One the most famous worshipers here was William Stead journalist and social reformer who drowned in the Titanic.
The construction of the little Elim Chapel in Elm Grove originates as a result of a breakaway movement from Mengham Church.
The Roman Catholic Church of St Patrick's was built in 1914 As a result of a kind bequest by Emily Louise Coleman. Previously the Roman Catholics met in the White House which became the Choir School. Parts of the Choir School wall are still to be found in the area and the Convent (now flats) still has the Shrine on the outside.
The Baptists have no church on Hayling but meet in the community centre.
There is a Spiritualist Church on Hayling which is famous for the fact that at one time the novelist Neville Shute was one of its number.
The Church with the most contemporary design is St Andrews Anglican Church which serves the people of East Stoke and was built in 1975 a Mission church initiated by the people of St Mary's.
Amongst our local historians are those who hold the theory that Joseph of Arimethia came to Hayling Island where he deposited the Holy Grail, the question is where is it buried?