Christians

Seven local churches are working together to create a united witness in the community. This formal arrangement was launched in January 2002 though the churches and leaders have been worshiping and working together for many years.

There is also a network of Churches on the Island, Wight Churches, with a website and information service, which serves the whole Christian community on the Isle of Wight.

Events and Activities

United Prayer Meetings In Shanklin. This quiet time of sharing our personal prayers, praying for our work and witness together in Shanklin, deepens our faith and our love for one another.

We meet weekly on Saturday morning for a prayer meeting from 08:00 - 09:00.

This will be in the downstairs lounge at the URC - enter via the green door next to the bookshop.

United Services In Shanklin. During the 'winter' season, most of the churches in Shanklin hold an informal worship from September to May at 19:00 each week, with each of the participating church taking it in turns to host the service.

Rylstone Gardens Open Air Praise. Throughout June, July and August, we have Praise and Worship in the open air every week on Sunday evening in Rylstone Gardens - a lovely inspiring setting for Christian worship.

A photo of an evening from July 2005.
(Photograph courtesy of, & © 2005, Rev Brian Harley)
Click on the picture for a larger version

The season of open air praise services starts each year on Pentecost Sunday (25^th May this year) and runs through to the end of August. Different groups take it in turns to lead the meetings, which always attracts a good number of holiday visitors - if the weather isn't fair then we resort to meeting in one of Shanklin's Churches.

For details of where Rylstone Gardens are, see How To Find Us.

Holiday Bible Club. The theme for last year's Holiday Club was Transformers and took place in July at Lake Middle School.

"God is in the business of transformation! We explored how he turned things around by looking at stories from Genesis and John’s gospel"

Please telephone Janet Harley on (01983) 862485 for information about any Holiday Bible Club events.

Easter. The Churches of Shanklin in recent years have again joined together for three events at Easter, two of which are in the open air.

- Lent meetings on a Tuesday lunchtime, which this year are taking place at SURC.

- A Procession of Witness on Good Friday

- An Easter Sunday sunrise service on Hope Beach at 05:50 (see the pictures below from previous year's services), followed by breakfast at St Anthony's Convent.

Alpha Course - 'Explore the meaning of Life' Alpha courses are held periodically. This is a great means of introducing people to basic Christian beliefs.

Page Last Updated 02 April 2008