At Your Service

Why are so many young people - from primary school age children to late teenagers - keen to join church and cathedral choirs?  What is the important anniversary being marked later this week in Malew? When you want to buy something a little different for a special friend or relative, where do you look? And which of his 50 nativity sets has Richard Littledale brought with him today?? On today&#...

Welcome to AT YOUR SERVICE EXTRA - an occasional podcast that - as the name suggests - brings you interviews and stories that I just haven't had enough time to include in our regular weekly edition of AT YOUR SERVICE This week I've been to QEII High School in Peel, to talk to four Year 12 students who have set themselves a real challenge!  Listen as they tell you who they are and what...

Christmas is going 'live' again - at the request of the Douglas Town Centre Management, who have invited churches of all denominations to work together to present an outdoor re-telling of the Christmas story.  It's going to be on one of the late night shopping nights - Thursday December 15th at 6.30pm and it's completely free - but to keep everyone safe and comfortable, we nee...

This is the first Sunday of Advent - four weeks to prepare ourselves for the great celebration of Christmas. A chance to reach beyond the vague outline of the Christmas story, and ask ourselves 'What is really happening here?"  If we don't think carefully about our answer to that question, then we risk missing the greatest love-gift of all - which is God, in human form. Author, b...

Manx-born Ruth Rice founded the charity Renew Wellbeing following the breakdown of her own mental health, some 12 years ago.  Renew Wellbeing helps churches to create safe spaces where basically it's OK to not be OK - all are welcome, no one is judged or labelled - but everyone is gently encouraged to find their own pathway to mental and emotional health - through hobbies and interests, r...

On this day of Remembrance, we use words and music for a time of reflection on the high price that others paid during two World Wars, for the freedom we enjoy today. And - in conversation with Very Rev'd John Mann - we consider that we can learn from more recent conflicts.   John (who is married to Manx-born Helen and now lives in retirement in Laxey) has spent most of his adult life, &nb...

On 22nd October, Mrs Olive Dobson died peacefully, after a short stay in hospital.  Olive was 92 and is probably one of the longest-serving church organists the Island has ever known.  Olive was the organist at Abbeylands Chapel for 81 unbroken years, and for 47 of those years she was also organist at the Methodist Church on the Main Road in Onchan.   This programme is a celebration...

John Boles had a good job, a steady girlfriend and a love of travel.  But it was his deep Christian faith - and the unshakeable belief that God was calling him to some greater service - that changed the course of his life forever. Today, Father John Boles is a Roman Catholic priest  and the Director in Britain of the Columban Missionaries - an international order of missionary priests wh...

If the name of today's special guest is familiar to you, it may well be that you have heard him sharing a Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 2 ore leading Sunday Service and Prayer for the Day on BBC Radio 4 He's Rev'd Richard Littledale and - to use his own description - he's been making good use of words for the past 35 years! Richard has just retired as Pastor of Newbury Baptist C...

Reverend Doctor Janet Corlett is the first woman to become Chair of District - the leader of the Methodist Church on the Isle of Man - and we think she may also be the first Manx-born Chair of District  in living memory! This morning we have an in-depth conversation about Janet's life and ministry - a life that turned from science to ordination and which has taken her from 'the land o...

The two words Spiritual and Abuse don't sit comfortably together - we don't want to think of our churches, places of prayer,  or religious organisations as being places where people can feel uncomfortable or distressed - so exactly what is spiritual abuse - and  how can we make sure this doesn't happen? Psychologist Dr Lisa Oakley shares the results of her extensive research...

Scientist Dr Douglas Fox and his wife Carol - an ordained minister in the Methodist Church - divide their year between their home in the United States, and their home in Peel, where they can be found from Easter to October.  But the Island is far, far more important to them than just an attractive holiday destination.  It's become an essential part of their faith journey - and on thi...

The second of our At Your Service special programmes to give thanks for the remarkable life of dedicated service given by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the eve of her State Funeral.  In this programme, a time of prayer and reflection, based on the 23rd Psalm - The Lord Is My Shepherd - is led by the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and includ...

A programme of words and music, celebrating the faith of the late Queen Elizabeth II - contributors include King Charles III;  the Rt Reverend Peter Eagles, Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man; Monsignor John Devine;  Rev'd Dr Janet Corlett; the UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev'd Sarah Mullally Music includes three hymns from the Service of Thanksgiving a...

We were saddened to learn of the death of popular radio and television presenter BILL TURNBULL, at the age of just 66 - his life and career  cut short by prostate cancer.   For some time, Bill was one of the team of presenters on BBC TV's Songs of Praise, and in 2014 the programme team came to the Island, to record an edition during our Island of Culture year. We feature extracts fro...

Earlier this month, St Paul's Church celebrated 200 years of service to                                                                                             &n...

Dr Andrew Ollerton is a theologian, a preacher, a skilled communicator and a lover of the great outdoors!  He loves God - and he loves The Bible, and works with The Bible Society to develop guides to help us explore the book that he believes is a limitless source of guidance and hope, in the face of so much uncertainty in our modern world. In AT YOUR SERVICE today, Andrew takes us walking wit...

St Paul's Church in Ramsey has been at the heart of the community for the last two hundred years.  We talk to church members Martin Barrow and Viv Hare who are leading four days of celebration, starting with a hog roast and children's games in the church gardens from 2pm on Thursday 18 August. On Friday and Saturday 19th and 20th, St Paul's will be open each day from 10am to 5.30p...

Myles MacBean is the National Director of Scripture Union England and Wales, and was on the Island this week to experience at first hand the Port St Mary Scripture Union Beach Mission. Scripture Union works around the world to create opportunities for children and young people to explore the Bible, discover the message of Jesus for themselves, respond to that message if they wish, and then grow in...

Rev'd Tina Hodgett is an Anglican priest who is passionate about the power of pioneer ministry to change people's lives - she's got a wealth of experience in the challenges and joys of this particular type of outreach, and now teaches and supports not just Anglican but Methodist and United Reformed Churches too, as they find new and imaginative ways to form relationships with the many...

There's a rumour that there won't be any sweets in the Port St Mary Scripture Union Beach Mission this year ... but don't worry - it's only the group names that are changing!  A fortnight of fun, games, crafts, contests and interactive Bible-based games are  on offer for ages 0 - 17 years,  from 31 July to 12 August. Go to the website - www.psmbm.im - for full detail...

On today's programme, we explore the role of the Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, in conversation with Graeme Easton, a parishioner of St Columba's church in Port Erin. On Saturday 23 July in St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Hill Street, Douglas, Graeme will be ordained as a Permanent Deacon, by Bishop Tom Williams, an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, o...

In the whole world there are only just over 200 of them, and only two of them are in the UK - who are they? They're Cardinals- the most senior officials in the Roman Catholic Church whose duties include electing the Pope, acting as his principal advisors and generally aiding in the government of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world.   Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald now lives in ret...

In Autumn 2021, Reverend Liz Hull was appointed Priest in Charge of St Thomas's church in Finch Road, Douglas and was excited to see the plans already drawn up, to re-develop this most beautiful church to preserve its artistic and architectural qualities, whilst at the same time meeting the needs of the local community. On today's programme we meet Reverend Liz and hear the story of her jo...

This week, we go to Rushen Abbey to investigate a week-long event organised by Scripture Union Ministries Trust, which will attract around 700 of the Island's Year 5 schoolchildren.  It's called LIFEPATH and involves teachers, leaders and an army of volunteers - two young volunteers, Rosie and Xander Shirtliff explain their role, SUMT out-going Team Leader Ruth Walker reflects on her...