11th CENTURY.

When built in William the Conqueror's reign, the church simply consisted of a rectangular nave and a low roofed chancel rounded off in an apse (semi-circular). Narrow deep splayed openings in the thick walls would supply the dim religious light. The three lancet windows, without grooves for glass in the north side of the chancel (left of the altar) are of this early Norman period.

12th CENTURY.

In the next century the Cistercian monks from Lyra Abbey decided to pull down much of the original church and rebuild in  a more splendid style. They enlarged the nave by building on the two side aisles.

13th CENTURY.

The church was still further enlarged in the 13th century, by the construction of its lateral (north and South) transepts, thus giving the church its present cruciform shape and more amply providing for the needs of the parish which, until 1861, stretched from sea to sea (Ryde - Ventnor).

14th CENTURY.

In the 14th Century the southern porch was added together with the exquisite little rose window. This window is best seen by standing at the altar rails whence this 'circle of loveliness', high up on the western wall, shows itself between the tie beams.