Bible verse of the week: Jesus said ” the wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find. ” So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. Matthew Chapter 22 verses 8 to 10 
31st August
Hope you have had a enjoyable holiday period. We are starting to think about returning to work or getting kids back to school. There is still much to look forward to though including our upcoming Barn Dance. Get your tickets now. Bring as many people as you like to make up a table.
19th August
Grand Prix Races soon which will mean some more holiday makers visiting us, and then sadly the summer holiday period will be coming to an end. But dont worry there will be a chance for some more fun at a Barn Dance to be held on Saturday 11th September at Ballasalla Village Hall, entry by ticket which are available at church. Funds raised will help pay for the kitchen refurbishment.
9th August
So what sort of summer are you having? Church seems quiet on Sunday’s without the Sunday Fun Club. This is the time of year when we see a number of visitors in church. It is always good to hear where people are from, their home church setting and what has brought them to the island. We try to make everyone feel welcome after all we are one church! Oh yes dont forget our patronal festival this Sunday 15th August, the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the service we will enjoy a faith lunch in the hall. All very welcome.
2nd August
Well into summer holidays now. All clubs meeting in church stopped for a few weeks, time to give the hall some tender loving care. Lunches continue on Tuesdays 1200 to 1.30pm as does Wednesday @ 1.15pm, Saturday morning coffee break and of course services on Sunday, so see you there.
13th July
The Sunday Fun Club has two more weeks to run until the end of term. The final Sunday -25th July – will be a party, so come prepared for a breakfast party and bring friends if you want to. Advance notice of the first Castletown Songs of Praise on the Harbour on Sunday 31st August at 6.30pm. Hymns selected and introduced by people with a connection with the sea.
7th July
Tynwald Day saw our clergy, including our Vicar, take their place in the 
procession and on the Hill. The weather was just right and a large crowd enjoyed event. At church we are settling into our Summer routine, it is nice to see visitors. The Flower Festival is underway. Our church is not participating this year but many churches in the South are, so visit the Flower Festival website to find out details.
29th June
Well the summer is well and truly here. Gardens were looking parched…and then we had some rain which has helped. We need all varieties of weather just as we need all varieties of people to be involved in the life of St Mary’s. Have a look at the different services and what’s on in the week and why not try something different?
Watch out soon for details of our self help re decoration parts of the church. It is hoped to carry this out whilst the school holidays are on, so that we can complete our makeover.
21st June
Well an interesting time… TT now over for this year…weather improved…a massive
A rather poor pic, but you get the idea...lots of people...big tent....churches worshipping God together!
big tent has arrived to dominate the Douglas sky line and the sound of lawn mowers and the smell of BBQ’s dominate the senses. It must be summer. Sunday 20th June…Fathers Day…will be remembered for many years as the day all the churches came together for ‘One in the Park’ in that massive tent. An estimated 3000+ people from all denominations worshiped God together and covenanted to continue to work together.
Update 7th June
TT time again and Castletown along with the rest of the island has come alive with visitors and locals getting into the TT spirit….or alternatively, hiding away until its all over…take your pick. Life at St Mary’s has picked up where it left off before the re ordering. Tuesday lunches have started again and as of today using the additional space provided by the removal of the pews.
Update 31st May
What a wonderful day. Starting with the Sunday Fun Club at 9.30 when Bishop Robert joined the parents for a bacon roll, we then moved smoothly into the main morning service at which Bishop Robert blessed all parts of the re ordered church. We had a bit of a surprise when we were told the day before that Manx Radio – Judith Ley – would be recording the service . Judith set up her systems and although she could probably hear the organists knees knocking, the service when through without a hitch. See Church Re ordering page for more photographs.
Bishop Robert with l to r Vicar Peter, Organist Dave, Warden Pauline and Reader Colin
Update 23rd May - Its SMOTH but not as you know it!
Well, its done. Its been two years in the planning, generous donations and a grant from the Church of England…the Vicar keeping our nerve and after just a little under three weeks, St Mary’s is transformed. 25 years after it was first consecrated as the Parish Church, it has been reordered to meet today’s needs. There will be some settling in and undoubtedly we will have some fine tuning to do, but the general reaction on Sunday – Pentecost – when people arrived at church was…wow! Judge for yourself in some of these photos…or better still come and see.
17th May
Almost there… carpets started to be laid today…extra work needed to board the back of church to allow for a smooth finish to lay the carpets. All but two of the pews gone to good homes, which is great, the donations will help balance the books. All set now for furniture to arrive on Thursday then everything set back in place on Saturday morning ready for services on Sunday 23rd May – Pentecost.
Update 13th May
Well almost at the end of the second week of work. All going well except damp was found in the floor joists near the harbour wall of the church. This has required some unexpected work replacing joists and floor boards. We had our first Sunday of services in the hall which seemed to go ok, though it was a challenge to change from the Sunday Fun Club to the Morning Service layout in about 10 minutes.
The Hall set up for the first Sunday of services 9th May.
Update Wednesday 5th May
Re ordering work going to plan except that some damp has been found in the floorboards and joists at the front of church which is hardly surprising considering the problem we had with water ingress until the gable end was repaired recently. Photo shows situation at end of second days work. Altar and remaining pews are covered, so please don’t worry they are protected.
Re furbishment at end of day 2
Update Sunday 2nd May
So the day has arrived. After the Morning Service work began immediately to start clearing the church. But actually the work started on Friday when Liz and Dave cleared the rubbish from the front of the church building. Then on Saturday a group of strong fit men cleared the hall of the heavy items for ditching. All but 3 of the pews are now going to good homes with donations helping towards the costs of our re ordering.
The builders move in on Tuesday 4th May. Tuesday Lunches and Wednesday at 1.15 service is canceled for a couple of weeks. Otherwise all other groups continue to meet in the hall and our services will be held in the hall for the next two Sundays.
Update 27th April
Well the Easter season is passing and we look forward to Ascension Day on Wednesday 13th May and then beyond to Pentecost on 23rd May. This significant time in our Christian calendar is also important in the life of our church as our re ordering starts on 4th May and is due to be completed by Pentecost.
Lots of preparation has taken place, but that will not mean that there are not difficulties to be encountered not least of which will be the impact that the change has on people. Our hope and prayer is that what emerges is a St Mary’s which is still very much a ‘family’ home which builds upon the efforts of those who first fitted out the church in 1985. We are fortunate to have many of those faithful people still with us, including the Vicar at the time Reverend Norman Kelly.
Browse the site to find out about our services, how to arrange baptisms, weddings etc and generally all you could wish to know about St Mary’s. If its not here send an email to vicar@smothiom.org.
