There is but little to say of the small church of the small parish of Kingston. It stands on a grassy knoll on high and somewhat bleak ground in the south of the island, about half way between Shorwell and Chale. The original church, built by the lord of the manor for his tenants in the 13th century, consisted of a simple nave and chancel under a continuous roof forming a parallelogram of about 50 feet by 12 feet in internal measurement. The church appears to have remained much as when first built until 1766, when a large south porch was added. In 1872 an almost complete rebuilding was unfortunately carried out in place of a conservative restoration. The eastern and western late lancet windows in the north wall, the eastern one in the south wall and lower part of the east window are original. There is a single bell-cote at the west end. The 1872 scheme included a vestry on the south aisle.
On the floor is a 15th century small brass inscribed “Mr Rychard Mewys whych decessyd the iii. Day of March in the yere of o’ lord God mccccc and xxxv.” He is represented wearing a long gown liberally trimmed with fur. A small plate on one side of the figure is engraved with four sons similarly clad, and on the other shield of the Mewes arms - Paly of 6, on a chief 3 crosses pattee. It appears from the register of Bishop Fox, 1501 - 1528, that advowson was at that time in the gift of Sir John Mewes.
The church is said to be dedicated to St. Paul, but this is a most unusual medieval dedication, it is more likely that this is of a more modern origin.
Transcribed from “County Churches by J Charles Cox, LL.D., F.S.A. Pub. 1911.
In later publications the church is shown to be dedicated to St. James. A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 5 (1912), pp. 249-51.
