We welcome all those who would like to support and assist in the maintenance and development of the fabric and structure of our church and to preserve and protect it as a place of Christian worship.
Since I wrote the introduction to the Friends of St Mary's brochure more than ten years ago, many of the objectives we set ourselves then have been achieved and we have embarked on the big objective of making St Mary's warmer!
When our church was built more than 750 years ago, it was the biggest roofed public building on the Island and was very much a focus of Island life. For that reason, and in common woith churches up and down the land, it was a very flexible building with no fixed internal structures. During the Victorian period the Island population in general were regular church–goers and the inside of the church was changed to reflect this and make it more comfortable. Pews and other fixed fittings were introduced and with them the flexibility of the church was gradually lost.
As general church attendance fell away during the 20th century, so the church became less suitable for general community activities and the current work in the church is designed to address this problem. Pews have gone to be replaced by flexible seating arrangements, the space used by the organ has been made available, the heating and lighting are being improved and the pulpit is being moved to free up more space in the nave.
In case it is thought that this is a very revolutionary and ‘bad thing’ it is worth looking at our great cathedrals and other major church buildings. They were built at about the same time as St Mary's and have never been ‘Victorianised’ and so have retained their flexibility. Those who remember the Diocesan pilgrimage to Canterbury 40 years ago will recall that the day before the diocesan communion for 4,000 folk from the diocese, the cathedral was being used for a huge farewell service for the local Regiment with all the seating that involved. Without the sort of flexibility that we are now reintroducing, this would not have been possible.
All this costs money and though good progress has been made and is being made to raise it, there is a long way still to go. So if you would like to help us and the Island please join the Friends of St Mary's by completing the Membership Application Form on this page.
