Shanklin United Reformed Church

High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. PO37 6LA
Registered Charity No. 1130459

A member of the Evangelical Alliance

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Christians Working Together In Shanklin

Information

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.

News

Rev Len Wilkie gave a wonderful address at the United Service in January for the Week of prayer for Christian Unity. Do pick up a copy of the CD if you missed it. The next United Service for the season will be on Sunday 12 February at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Atherley Road (though the venue may be changed).

Informal Shared Worship – the dates for 19:00 meetings are:

  5 Feb            at URC
19 Feb            at Sacred Heart
26 Feb            at Methodist

Foodbank - our joint project to open a distribution centre comes to fruition now with a Foodbank Cafe opening twice a week at the Methodist Church. See the separate article for more details

United Prayer Meetings – each Saturday, 09:00 at the United Reformed Church, in the downstairs rooms.  Please come and join us for just under an hour as we pray for our work and witness together in the town. Entry is via the green door by the bookshop.

St Anthony’s Covent

Sadly this house of prayer and service will close this month after their 100^th anniversary celebration. The few remaining sisters will relocate to the mainland. Please do remember them in prayer - Sister Gabriel has lived there 66 years!  We will miss their hospitality - no bacon rolls there at Easter

Women’s World Day of Prayer

This year's Women's Day of Prayer is on Friday 2^nd March and there will be a morning service at the Methodist Church

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 mornings for a prayer meeting at 09:00 in Shanklin URC.
 

United Services In Shanklin

Held on the second Sunday of the month during the 'winter season'.

Do come along and share in worship with our friends from local churches.

Informal Shared Worship

During the 'winter' season, September to May, at 19:00 most of the churches in Shanklin hold an informal worship, with each of the participating churches taking it in turns to host the service and it follows the usual pattern of:

- URC on 1st Sunday
- Sacred Heart on 3rd Sunday
- Methodist church on the 4th Sunday

All are most welcome to join in these meetings where there is a growing depth of fellowship and prayer.

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.

Some photos from previous years (click on the pictures for a larger version)

(Photographs courtesy of, & © 2008, Christopher Sparks)

(Photographs courtesy of, & © 2009, Christopher Sparks)

The season of open air praise services starts each year on Pentecost Sunday and runs through to the end of August. Different groups take it in turns to lead the meetings and 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.

Easter

The Churches of Shanklin in recent years have joined together for three events at Easter.

- Lent meetings on a Tuesday lunchtime.

- A Procession of Witness on Good Friday.

- An Easter Sunday sunrise service on Hope Beach at 06:00 (see the pictures below from previous year's services).

Click on the pictures for a larger version
2004 (Photograph courtesy of, & © 2004, Rev Brian Harley)

2005 (Photograph courtesy of, & © 2005, David Pugh)

2007 (Photograph courtesy of, & © 2007, Rev Brian Harley)

Alpha Course - 'Explore the meaning of Life'

Alpha courses are held periodically. Another is being held at the moment

This is a great means of introducing people to basic Christian beliefs.

Details from Tony Harding

Holiday Bible Club

This is usually based on Scripture Union’s holiday club material and of a week's duration.  It is full of games, crafts, drama, music and Bible stories as children learn about Jesus! 

Much fun is had by everyone!!

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