

The Church Recorders are a sub-group of The Arts Society.
Secular groups of volunteers interested in preserving national heritage work together to record the contents of places of worship. Records assist with compilation of terriers and inventories, preserve information for posterity in case of closure, provide information for police in cases of theft or other damage and provide basic information for researchers.
The group welcomed Madelaine Sankey and Rose Penn who joined during the period, both of whom have been involved in our recent work at the Ballaugh Old Church. This brings the number of active volunteers to sixteen.
In May 2012 Pat McClure retired from her post as Group Leader after ten years as the driving force and inspiration to all. Jonathan Latimer has taken over the post, while Pat continues as a member where her experience and continuing guidance will be of great benefit to the group.
During the summer of 2011 the record of St Thomas’s, Douglas, was checked, the photographs inserted, and the whole prepared for final production. The record was presented on 30th September 2011 in St Thomas’s Church. That month the group also commenced recording the Ballaugh Old Church, St Mary de Ballaugh, and by the end of the season in May 2012 had completed the fieldwork. The record of Kirk Christ, Lezayre, has also progressed and is now proof read, and ready for final checking and production. The presentation is due in autumn 2012. In April 2012, during the Easter period, the silver at Santon Church which was originally recorded in 2004, was re-photographed and an addendum will be placed with the original records showing their wonderful silver using modern photographic technique.
Church Recorders on the Isle of Man continue to be funded by IOM DFAS as part of the Society’s Educational, Conservation and Charitable activity. In addition the group receives a small grant towards the costs of production of the record from The Arts Society headquarters.
Church Trails are aimed at children aged 8-12 years, but can be fun for the whole family A Church Trail is not necessarily associated with a Church Record.
The Church Trails consist of illustrated questionnaires that take you on a trail around a specific church on the Island.
Click here for more information on Church Trails and where you can find them on the Isle of Man » More on Church Trails
The Trails of Discovery consist of illustrated questionnaires that take you on a trail around a specific church on the Island.
Click here for more information on Trails of Discovery and where you can find them on the Isle of Man