Last week I asked if anyone knew of a history of Binstead parish & church. This week I'm doing penance. In reading notes I made some years back I realized that I must have a copy of such a history and after rooting through piles of documents and in poorly-labelled files I found it, namely "The History of Holy Cross Church, Binstead, Isle of Wight", Jack Wheeler, with May 1969 preface by the rector Clifford Targett, printed by Lightbrowns, Ryde, 31 pages. The author speculates on the origins of the church - before the Domesday survey (1086)? It was probably founded to minister to the community working the famous Binstead limestone quarries from which the 12th century Quarr Abbey, "the most important religious foundation in the Isle of Wight", derived its name. The abbots of Quarr "were responsible for organizing the Island's defences against the frequent invasions of those times" (p. 30). The church was largely repaired in 1844 but there is no list of contributors to the cost (p. 10). Some items of interest to family historians are: - The earliest surviving registers date from 1710 (p. 20). - The Rector noted that in the period 1712-1734 baptisms were not entered in their proper place because "Ye Acctt was kept in papers by ye Clerk as he was ordered but neglected to be Enterd from 1712 to 1734. Ye Acctt was returned to ye Minister once in ye year." (p. 20). - "In the previous century [19th-century?] the people of Ryde used Binstead for burials instead of their own parish church at Newchurch, six miles distant. This may well have been due to difficult conditions in winter when the roads were practically impassable" (p. 22). - In February 1777 the curate noted that Thomas Gawne "of the Parish of Arreton, was baptized at Wootton where no Register was kept and at the request of his Parents this entry was made by me" (p. 22). - The hard-to-read 1620 inscription on a tomb in the churchyard states "Heare lyeth the bodyes of James Goodlad Parson and Sarah his wife..." This was in fact James Goodlad, rector (parson) of Binstead 1604-1620 (p. 24). I wonder how many similar inscriptions could be misread by confusing the surname with the profession? Names mentioned in the "History", excluding those of the rectors, are: Thomas LAWRANS, churchman, 1553 (p. 8). Richard KINGE, churchman, 1553 (p. 8). James Wilfrid ATTRILL, member of choir, ca 1948 (p. 12). John Nicholas HATHWAY, churchwarden, ca 1844? (p. 12). John N. HATHWAY, 1902 (p. 14). Arthur J. LENTON and wife Margaret, 1938 (p. 14). Col Archibald CLARKE (d. 1901), his wife Florence Bernard CLARKE (d. 1937) and their daughter Nora KENNEDY (p. 14). William Frederick WOOD (d. 1956) and his wife Mary Lily (d. 1965) (p. 14). Col Stephenson Robert CLARKE of Binstead House, 1932 (p. 16). Delme George MOOTHAM, churchwarden and treasurer, ca 1956 (p. 16). Farmer RAWKINS, churchwarden, 1710 (p. 20). The Widdow BROOKMAN, 1731 (p. 20). Sarah KING, widow from Ryde, 1758 (p. 20). Sarah JACOB, widow, 1758 (p. 20). John BARNS from Ryde, 1758 (p. 20). Richard YOUNG, wife Hannah, daughter Hannah, 1792 (p. 22). Fanny, daughter of Lt Col FOSTER, born in the East Indies, 1801 (p. 22). Lt George Wilson LEROUX of the 48th Regt of Foot, wife Mary Ellen & daughter Ellen Sophie O'Ryley, 1809 (p. 22). Antram BULSTRODE & Grace ADAMS, both of this parish, contested banns 1788 (p. 23). James DALLYMORE of Newport & Anne YOUNG of this parish, contested banns 1813 (p. 23). William LAVERS of Newchurch & Jane WOODMORE of this parish, banns 1820 (p. 23). Thomas SIVELL, mariner shot by Customs Officers, 1785 (p. 24). Samuel LANDON whose "huge figure earned for him the local name of giant", 1844 (p. 26). Of course there was no mention of the LIST family of Fishbourne in which I am interested. Peter Gawn (Canada).