By Isle of Wight Observer
I landed on the Island in the summer of 1994, at the age of 35, to begin Christian ministry in sunny Shanklin. I had worked in the City for 13 years, prior to my period of training in Cambridge, and Janet and I had lived in central London after both growing up in the suburbs around Harrow. It was quite a cultural shift – and confirms to me that God really has a sense of humour!
We arrived with our young family expecting to be here for five or more years, and here we are, fast approaching 30! We have found it a great place to live and raise our children, who are now in their 30s. The older two settled in their university towns, but our younger daughter has stayed around and loves the place.
We quickly grew to really love the Island, and have never got tired of the local cliff top walk. We try to get out together on my day off, to explore different places away from the madding crowds. There is so much we have still not discovered.
I do get across to the “North Island” quite a bit, as I have various wider church responsibilities and we also get over to see the family and for holiday breaks. While the Solent presents a challenge, the ferry ride back provides a chance to unwind after a long drive.
It has been a privilege to serve here among a vibrant church congregation. Few of the folk who were there in the mid-’90s are still around, but we continue to thrive and to welcome new people from the local community, and others who move here to settle.
Janet runs our mother and toddler group called CatURpillars, and together we led a summer Holiday Bible Club for children for 20 years in local school halls. Some of the parents now bringing their little children used to attend those clubs, while others remember me from school assemblies at Lake Middle School; life seems to come full circle.
I have met so many wonderful people over the years, and have been able to come alongside folk to celebrate weddings, give thanks for the joy of a new babies, and to offer support when loved ones have died. I lead monthly worship in a couple of local care homes, and it has been good to connect with all manner of local people through our drop-in Warm Space on Wednesdays, and other regular events like Messy Church.
People often say that Island life is slower, but I tend to keep pretty busy, as do most of my colleagues in the various church streams. I have been leading a second congregation in Haylands for the last 10 years, which has added to my responsibilities. We have been foster carers for over 20 years, mainly with two long-term placements, and this has put us in touch with a whole range of people across the Isle of Wight as well as a wide range of professionals in that sector. I sometimes ask myself if I have on taken on that Island mentality – thinking it’s a long way to Newport.
People ask me what is special about being involved in Christian ministry here? Well, we welcome holiday visitors almost every Sunday, so never get too cliquey; there is an obvious territorial boundary, so I know where to mainly invest in relationships and work with others – oh, and we have a great beach for baptisms, and to greet the Easter sunrise!