At Your Service

Rev Dr Michael Brydon explores the links between the railways and the church, using a fascinating collection of serious and not-so-serious stories - and with a selection of music to match! Plus - another packed notice board.

Mission Aviation Fellowship is an international charity using specially-adapted aircraft to bring all kinds of aid to otherwise inaccesible places. In this programme, Dom Sant and his 11 year old son Isaac talk about MAF's work in Papua New Guinea, where they live - and local businessman David Dorricott explains why he's donating a brand new plane to MAF. Fantastic faith in action here!

Retired Methodist Minister Rev'd Paul Davis and his wife Elizabeth have just spent over two months on the Island, as Paul assisted the local Methodist churches whilst our own Chair of District, Rev'd Dr Janet Corlett, was on sabbatical. On the programme today, we discover why the Island is a home-from-home for this Lancashire couple, and learn more about their life, and Paul's ministry - including...

On today's programme we tell the story of the new Port Erin Methodist church - from plans that began 8 years ago, to the official opening ceremony yesterday morning. It's next to - but separate from - the 1903 church building on Station Road, and incorporates the hall and Sunday Schoolrooms added to the 1903 church in 1973. But what we have now is a beautiful chapel, a fine refurbished hall and ot...

On the programme today : Jen Casson talks about her new community outreach under the GOD FOR ALL banner of the Methodist Church on the Island. It starts on Thursday 5th September at 11.30am in Castletown Methodist church lounge - if you'd like to know more, or lend a helping hand, email Jen - jen.casson@methodist.org.im Rev'd Andrew de Smet is an Anglican priest and trained psychotherapist with a...

Trying something a little different with a mid-week AT YOUR SERVICE - there's still lots on offer as we celebrate the Island's Patron Saint - Maughold - with walks, talks and food all based around Kirk Maughold - the Parish Church (set in the most stunning countryside with amazing coastal views!) The Choristers from St John The Baptist Parish Church in Broughton, Lancashire are back on the Island...

Rev'd Katy Canty is a teacher, an ordained priest in the Anglican Church, a wife, a mother and an author. She's also worked for 14 years as chaplain in a Liverpool prison, and joins us on the programme this week to share what she's learned from her time 'inside' She also explains how retirement from prison chaplaincy led to another role - this time working with chaplains in all walks of Liverpool...

The Rt Rev'd Mark Davies is Bishop of MIddleton in Manchester - and at the same time he's taking care of the Diocese of Sodor and Man until Bishop-Elect Patricia Hillas takes up her ministry in October - this week he's talking about vocations - and reminds us that we've all got one. And from the archives, another chance to listen to Loretta Minghella who tells the story of a tiny request that tran...

As their annual Conference celebrates 50 years of women's ordination as presbyters - ministers - in the Methodist Church, Past President of Conference, Rev'd Sonia Hicks, tells her story that reveals the path to progress was not always an easy one. We've music - and comments from organist Gareth Moore - recorded in St Thomas's Church in Douglas last Sunday afternoon at the Festival of Hymns - the...

As we celebrate 60 years of broadcasting on Manx Radio, today's programme features a few of the guests and topics we've covered on Sunday mornings over the past years. Rev'd Marc Wolverson and Gareth Moore discuss REV - the TV sitcom that took the lid off clergy life; we recall the characters we met, and stories we heard, during the long-running series of Thought for the Day and Just a Minute, wit...

The Isle of Man Church Music Association seems to have been founded in 1897 and over the years has had some celebrated leaders, including Miss M L Wood, founder of our beloved Manx Music Festival. In recent years, the Association's influence has waned - but all that is set to change as leadership has recently been picked up by Dr Peter Litman, Gareth Moore and Rev'd Joanna Fisher. A Festival of Hy...

On today's programme, three people share poignant stories about their late Father - and Pioneer Minister Rev'd Alex Brown, who lives and ministers in Douglas, explores what it means to be fully human. And there's music too - and our regular Notice Board. Items for inclusion on the notice board can be emailed to judithley@manxradio.com

Rev'd Susan McIver is the Safeguarding Officer in the Nottingham and Derby District of the Methodist Church. She visited the Island recently, to lead a study day - open to members of churches of all denominations - on SILENCE in the context of safeguarding ..... when it's necessary and helpful, and when it's recognised as a tool, used to manipulate, or make a person powerless. On this programme, I...

Thursday 6 June, 2024 is the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings - lone pipers throughout the British Isles have been taking turns to each play a poignant piece of music at various locations at 8am each morning. By the time we reach the anniversary on 6 June, the piece will have been played on 80 consecutive mornings, at 80 different locations - and the Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums have the pri...

Earlier this year, Angela Southern, a member of Ballagarey Methodist Church, was selected to represent not just the Isle of Man, but the whole of the British Isles, at the All Africa Conference of Churches - an ecumencial body which accounts for over 200 million Christians across the African Continent. Our local Christian Aid Rep Louise Whitelegg chose to go with Angela (at her own expense) to lea...

Praying the Keeills Week has started and between now and Saturday 25 May, there's a daily programme of walks - both long and short - an evening talk, a coach trip - and even the blessing of the Peel Lifeboat! Catherine Wareing explains that this week is a chance to visit some of the Island's keeill sites - the ruined but sacred chapels dotted around the Manx landscape - to enjoy their beauty, soak...

Christian Aid Week starts today and the project for this year is to use the mighty pigeon pea to transform the lives of the people of Malawi - people living in extreme poverty, but with the capacity to raise their standard of living with help to farm - and use -  the hardy pigeon pea crop more efficiently. Local Christian Aid Representative, Louise Whitelegg, joins us with all the details. An...

We conclude our coverage of the official opening of the new Salvation Army Church and Community Centre in Ballacottier Crescent on the Isle of Man Business Park in Braddan which took place over the weekend of 27th and 28th April 2024.     In this programme we share words and music from a time of worship, recorded during the Sunday morning service on the celebration weekend, led by Captai...

Commissioners Paul and Jenine Main are the Territorial Commanders - or leaders - of The Salvation Army throughout the UK, Ireland - and the Isle of Man.  But between 1991 and 1997, they were young Corps Officers, leading the Salvation Army based in the Lord Street Citadel in Douglas. Now - nearly 30 years later - they're back on the Island for the official opening and dedication of the ne...

On the programme today, Salvation Army Corps Officers Captains Dylan and Rachael Nieuwoudt are looking forward to the Official Opening of their magnificent new Church and Community Centre in Douglas - and to welcoming General Lyndon Buckingham to perform the ceremony - the first visit of a Salvation Army world-wide leader to the Isle of Man since the mid-1930's We go deeper into the earth art...

Rev'd Liz Hull, Vicar of St Thomas's Church in Finch Road, in the Cultural Quarter of Douglas, joins us today to tell the GAIA story .... the giant illuminated 3-dimensional globe which will seem to float - framed inside St Thomas's magnificent archways, and its famed Nicholson Murals.  A chance for us to see our Earth as never before .....  For details of tickets, special ev...

Christian Aid Isle of Man Representative Louise Whitelegg is here with an invitation to a great party - to celebrate all the work that's been achieved in Burundi, thanks to the generosity of the Manx public and the IOM Government Overseas Aid - and to say goodbye to all those completed projects - because it's time now to turn our attention to Malawi - a country in the grip of serious pover...

Easter Day celebrates events which took place over 2,000 years ago, but which still remain at the very heart of the Christian faith. In words and music, we explore the first Easter, and reflect on what it is saying to our world today. Includes music from the Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars of St German's Cathedral in Peel, conducted by the Cathedral's Director of Music, Dr Peter Litman, sin...

This is the week that the Christian Church calls HOLY - and although it recalls events that happened over two thousand years ago, its message is central to the Christian faith, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, continues  to offer hope to people exposed to almost unbearable suffering. Today, through the spoken word, music, conversations - and a tragically true st...

After establishing Cafe Lingo 8 years ago based in the Promenade Methodist Church in Douglas - offering a relaxed and welcoming hub for anyone new to the Island, and for whom English is not their first language, Karen Norton and husband Tim are taking a well-earned retirement.  But it'll be business as usual at Cafe Lingo - the Nortons join us today to tell us who is taking over - and the...