Long ago the Solent was a river and Wight was no island. Recent moves to connect the islanders to the mainland with a tunnel or bridge have so far come to nothing. Wight goes its way as a miniature replica of Tasmania. If Switzerland is known for its cuckoo clocks, Wight is known for its coloured sands (from Alum Bay). Like the Faroese we English can never forget that we are islanders.
In the west of the island St Agnes’s church, Freshwater Bay is the only thatched church on the island. It is now pressing on with work on the floor and the thatched roof after the lockdown put a brake on its plans. Leisa Potter is in charge of the team of parishes in an area where Tennyson used to worship and where he said the air on the Down was worth sixpence a pint, if I remember correctly. Christ Church, one of the churches in the team, celebrates in the West Wight magazine the contribution made to its story by some who have moved on retirement to enjoy island life, including one centenarian.
Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, is notable for its castle. It was once a place of royal imprisonment. King Charles the First was held there prior to his execution. He made two abortive attempts to escape. Today Carisbrooke is possibly a record-holder. ‘Carisbrooke parish news’ is distributed to 3,600 homes every month. New distributors are being recruited to aid its re-appearance in print form after lockdown restrictions.
Ryde is well supplied with church buildings. All Saints’ is an imposing building by Gilbert Scott dating from 1872 and seating 600. Its Willis organ is out of use. Holy Trinity came into service in the 1840s, closed in 2014 and became a community centre under the name Aspire. It still holds a weekly Bible study. St John’s was consecrated in 1843 and when Holy Trinity ceased to function as a parish church welcomed the remaining worshippers from HT into its care.
St Catherine’s and Holy Trinity, Ventnor parish magazine carries an article expressing concern about the increasing centralisation of the Church of England. St Paul’s Barton magazine invites readers to a Zoom session on Jesus’ exposition of the Torah.
Newport, the island capital, has a parish church with a quaint dedication to trap the unwary: Saints Thomas. It is Didymus and Becket who give the church its twofold nomenclature. And, of course, it is nowadays styled a minster, which must count for something. The minster runs Alpha courses and has formed a Gospel choir.
The Solent attracts those who like messing about in boats and dodging sea-going vessels. We’re all islanders. The sea is in our blood.
If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.
Comments