Diocese of Sodor and Man The Parish Church of …...Diocese of Sodor and Man The Parish Church of Saint Matthew the Apostle Douglas _ [ 4 ] _ 6. The Parish The resident population

Diocese of Sodor and Man

The Parish Church of Saint Matthew the Apostle Douglas

Parish Profile

August 2012

Website: http://www.stmatthewsiom.org

http://www.stmatthewsiom.org/



CONTENTS

1. The Challenge 1

2. The Person 1

3. Styles and Traditions of Worship 2

4. Mission Plan 3

5. Church Leadership 3

6. The Parish 4

7. The Fellowship 4

8. The Church Building 5

9. The Vicarage 6

10. Church Finances 6

11. Parish Activities 7

12. Children and Youth Work 8

13. Services 9

14. Music 10

15. Communications and Policies 11

16. What the Island and Douglas has to offer 12

Appendix 13

Map of St. Matthew’s Parish 13

2011 Accounts and Balance Sheet 14



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1. The Challenge Saint Matthew’s Church family is a happy worshipping community firmly

rooted in the Catholic tradition. We are seeking to expand the existing

congregation.

We wish to maintain the Catholic tradition of the Church of England here in

the Isle of Man and to continue the celebration of the Mass daily as witness

to the command of Jesus.

2. The Person The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Patron of the living. The PCC has

passed Resolutions A, B and petitioned for alternative Episcopal oversight;

pastoral care is provided by the Bishop of Beverley.

The priest appointed must be of the same tradition and espouse the same

values as regards matters of faith and order. The priest appointed will be

required to perform additional duties within the diocese as appointed by the

Diocesan Bishop.

The Parish needs a priest who:

is a man of prayer and who places the Mass and daily office at the

centre of his life

is enthusiastic and dynamic

is dedicated to the mission and outreach of the church

is able to encourage and nurture others – especially newcomers – in

the faith

believes that the expression of worship should be the best we can

offer liturgically and musically



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3. Styles and Traditions of Worship

The Sunday Solemn Mass is the centre of our Christian life and fellowship.

The liturgy is within the Catholic tradition of the Church.

There is normally an evening Solemn Mass on most Holy Days of

Obligation falling on a weekday, although some such as Epiphany and

Corpus Christi have been transferred to Sundays over recent years. The

Easter Triduum liturgies are at the heart of our worship each year.

Mass is said daily during the week at various times. We are the only church

on the Island to have continued this tradition.



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4. Mission Plan Saint Matthew’s is part of the Eastern Mission Partnership here on the

Island. The partnership represents a coming together of all the churches

within the Eastern district of the Island to focus on vision and working

together in outreach.

5. Church Leadership

Licensed Reader – Sir Laurence New

Churchwardens – Mrs Janet Creer and Sir Laurence New

PCC Treasurer – Mrs Amber Cordwell

PCC Secretary – Mrs Alex Tawney

Child Protection Officer – Mrs Janet Creer

Sunday School Teachers – Mrs Vicki

Townend and Mrs Ayesha Erani-Kirkham

Organist – Mr John Riley

Sacristan – Mrs Janet Creer

Master of Ceremonies – Mr Paul Lewin

Webmaster – Mr Paul Lewin



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6. The Parish

The resident population of the parish is around 1,800. There are a number

of shops and offices. The church is located on the quayside in Douglas, the

Island’s capital. The parish is a somewhat scattered community since the

waves of redevelopment of the town moved generations of people away

from the town centre and quayside. There is now though a huge re-

generation project being conducted for the quayside area and it hoped that

in future more residential properties will be built near Saint Matthew’s and

offer a new opportunity for outreach. The parish also includes a housing

estate some distance from the church which has a primary school. This is

the only school within the parish.

Since 1878, the steady teaching of the Christian faith and its worship in

accordance with the Catholic tradition in the Church of England has been

built up and maintained, at times in the face of opposition from outside the

parish. The tradition of the Island has generally been “Low Church” and

the very extensive popularity of nonconformity on the Island, however

Saint Matthew’s has continued the Catholic ceremonial and traditional

teaching. Saint Matthew’s congregation is drawn not only from the

immediate parish but the Island as a whole, as people appreciate the unique

witness that we represent.

7. The Fellowship

The normal Sunday Mass congregation numbers between 40 and 50 for the

sung Mass and 10-12 for the earlier Low Mass.

During 2011 there were 16 baptisms, 1 wedding and 10 funerals.

Confirmation preparation classes are held as appropriate.

The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Lady Chapel and those that cannot

attend church through age or infirmity receive Holy Communion weekly.

The electoral roll currently comprises 107 names; 47 male and 60 female.

Some of those on the electoral role whilst not living in the parish have been

connected with the church for several generations and are descended from

the original congregation.



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The Church Building The church was built to the design of the famous Victorian architect John

Loughborough Pearson and must have been one of the last before his death.

The church was built in stages. The Nave was consecrated on 10 July 1901

and its foundation stone laid in August 1895 and had been in use since

August 1897. The chancel was finally completed and consecrated on the

200th anniversary of the consecration of the old church, Saint Matthew’s

Day, 21 September 1908. The plans for the church halls, built in 1912, bear

the signature of his son.

The Sunday and other Solemn Masses are celebrated at the High Altar.

Said Masses are celebrated in the Lady Chapel and once a month a

Requiem Mass is said at the Valkyrie Chapel Requiem Altar (an altar made

from the wood of a wrecked ship.) The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in a

Tabernacle on the Lady Chapel Altar.

The church buildings are kept in good repair and much work has been

achieved during the last incumbency. The church roof has been renewed in

recent times. A total re-wiring of the church and halls has been undertaken

in 2011. Heating is by gas heaters in the church and an oil fired boiler and

radiators in the church halls. The last Quinquennial inspection was

undertaken in September 2011.

The church has two large halls which are rented out on a regular basis and

are very busy all week. The halls are linked to the church by a cloister

which has recently been glazed. Kitchen and toilet facilities are located in

the ground floor. The church has no churchyard and the surround is mainly

paved with a small quayside garden.



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9. The Vicarage Saint Matthew’s Vicarage is situated just over one mile from the church in a

sought after location. It is a large semi-detached house with three bedrooms,

two attic rooms, two reception rooms, a breakfast room and kitchen. There

are two bathrooms, one ensuite and a separate w.c. The house will require

refurbishment. With effect from January 2013 all Vicarages in the Isle of

Man will fall under the care and maintenance of the diocese. St Matthew’s

Vicarage must be brought in line with the “green guide” or may perhaps be

sold and a more modern property purchased. There is a Parish Office

located with the church buildings on North Quay.

10. Church Finances The PCC always pays its Parish Share in full (the 2011 Assessment is

£26,043).

A copy of the 2011 church accounts is annexed.

We have in recent years been the beneficiaries of a substantial legacy.

We are also the sole beneficiary of a trust fund established by Mr G A Ring,

one time Attorney General of the Island.

We support The Children’s Society, U.S.P.G and other charities. The Parish

subscribes to Forward in Faith.



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11. Parish Activities The laity is involved in the presentation of worship in the following ways:

Lay Eucharistic Ministers administer the Chalice

Altar Servers

Choir members

Lesson Readers

Intercessors

Sidespersons

There is an annual pilgrimage to Walsingham where we join with members

of other parishes on the Island.

We have Stations of the Cross each Tuesday evening in Lent.

Lunches are held at various times throughout the year in the church hall

after Sunday service. A Harvest Supper is arranged in October with

entertainment.

Saint Matthew’s Mothers’ Union is the oldest branch on the Island

and still continues. The branch joins in Diocesan events and also

organises some social activities in addition to meetings during the

year.

The Sunday School have an outing at Christmas and perform a Nativity

Pageant on the first Sunday after Christmas which is much enjoyed by all.

With the consent and encouragement of the Diocesan Bishop, St. Matthew’s

welcomes our friends from the local Orthodox communities (Antiochian

and Russian) to celebrate their Liturgy in the church.



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12. Children and Youth Work

We are extremely fortunate to have two trained primary school teachers as

our Sunday School leaders and the group continues to thrive. The Sunday

School meets on the first two Sundays of each month with additional

meetings at certain times such as Easter and Mothering Sunday. The

children meet at the same time as the Sung Mass and join the main

congregation for communion. The children present

their work to the congregation each month and we

enjoy their singing and presentations. The children

also take an active part in worship when appropriate

and are included in the offertory procession.

Currently the children are confirmed and then receive

Holy Communion, although we are open to introduce

First Communion followed by Confirmation at a later

date. In 2011 we had eight Confirmation candidates

confirmed by the Bishop of Beverley.



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13. Services

Our services are as follows:

Sunday

9.00a.m Low Mass

10.30a.m Solemn Mass and Sermon

Monday

12 noon Low Mass

Tuesday

6.00p.m. Low Mass

Wednesday

10.00a.m. Low Mass

Thursday

11.00a.m. Low Mass

Friday

11.00a.m. Low Mass

Saturday

9.15a.m. Low Mass



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14. Music

The worship is traditional in its ceremonial and the music is mostly fully

congregational settings of the Mass though on certain special occasions other

choirs will come to perform more elaborate masses and motets. Our choir is

currently very small but with dedicated members.

The church is often used for large choir performances and organ recitals. Our

organist, who is Chairman of the Isle of Man Organists’ Association will play at

weddings and funerals subject to availability. We are fortunate in having a young

person from the congregation who can provide organist cover.

The organ was originally built by Messrs Ernest Wadsworth Limited of

Manchester in 1922 and was rebuilt by Messrs Wood of Huddersfield in 1979. A

new two manual drawstop console in oak was provided and the action is electro-

pneumatic with “solid state” note switching.

A grand piano is available for occasional use.

The hymnbook used is the English Hymnal with a supplementary booklet of

Catholic Hymns compiled by the church.



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15. Communications and Policies There are:

weekly Sunday Mass reading sheets.

notices are announced each Sunday from the pulpit

notice boards both inside and outside the church and in the lower

church hall.

tables at back of the church for leaflets and publications

monthly Parish magazine

seasonal reflection booklets available during Lent, Easter and Advent

parish website updated by our Master of Ceremonies. The website

updates daily.

Baptisms take place either on Sunday afternoons or during the Sunday Mass with

preparation undertaken by the Vicar.

A few weddings take place annually with preparation undertaken by the Vicar.

Funerals in church are generally for members of the congregation often with a

requiem Mass. Bereavement visiting is usually undertaken by the Vicar.



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16. What the Island and Douglas has to offer

Douglas has been the Island’s capital since 1874 and has a population of 27,938.

Douglas is also the centre of the Island’s thriving finance sector and the location

of the main government offices and high court.

A college of further education is located in Douglas and an international business

school is located in the Parish. The International Business School being located in

Saint Matthew’s parish gives further opportunity for outreach. There are twelve

state primary and two secondary schools in Douglas. Saint Thomas’s Church of

England School is close to the town’s main shopping area.

There is a large sports complex and swimming pool in Douglas and the Island is a

great centre for all sports. There are two cinemas in the town. One is located in

the Villa Marina, a recently refurbished entertainment complex. For such a small

area the Island has no fewer than nine golf courses which all enjoy the stunning

Scenery of the Island.

Music thrives in the Island and there is a beautifully restored Matcham theatre in

Douglas where numerous professional and amateur shows are performed. There

are symphony orchestra concerts and various choirs perform regularly, especially

at the Villa Marina.

This Island nation has a long tradition of self-governance and a proud culture with

Celtic roots. St Patrick and St Maughold are said to have brought the Christian

faith to the Island in the sixth century and the remains of small Celtic chapels or

‘keeills’ (which is simply Manx Gaelic for ‘church’, from Latin ‘cella’, i.e. a

hermit’s cell) are dotted around the Island. There is an annual ecumenical ‘Praying

the Keeills’ week in May, in the organization of which members of St Matthew’s

congregation are involved.

The Manx Gaelic language, a Celtic tongue, was spoken by the majority of the

population until the nineteenth century, and although the last traditional native

speaker died in 1974, the language is currently being revived and certain members

of St Matthew’s congregation have been keen supporters.

Museums and National Heritage sites throughout the Island have won numerous

awards. A Victorian Steam Railway and Electric Railway are great attractions

The Island is famous for its stunning scenery from rugged moorland to leafy glens

and beautiful beaches. Walking is popular as is cycling. The Island also enjoys a

low crime rate.



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Educational opportunities on the Island are first class. There are three primary

schools and a secondary school in close proximity to the Vicarage. Higher

education facilities exist on the Island and, in addition, young people wishing to

follow degree courses in the United Kingdom are assisted by grants.

The Isle of Man is a low tax jurisdiction and in addition to this stipends are paid at

an enhanced level.

The Diocese of Sodor and Man is a good place in which to work particularly for

priests committed to the worship and mission of God and collaborative ministry.

Although the Island is geographically isolated from the rest of the United

Kingdom, travel to the mainland is efficient with daily sea-ferry services offered

by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Flights to a wide selection of UK

destinations leave daily with a number of flights per a day on the more popular

routes.



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APPENDIX:

MAP OF ST. MATTHEW’S PARISH



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Documents

Diocese of Sodor and Man The Parish Church of …...Diocese of Sodor and Man The Parish Church of Saint Matthew the Apostle Douglas _____ [ 4 ] _____ 6. The Parish The resident population

Diocese of Sodor and Man The Parish Church of …...Diocese of Sodor and Man The Parish Church of Saint Matthew the Apostle Douglas _ [ 4 ] _ 6. The Parish The resident population