News of Old Kirk Braddan

1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays May to September	6.30 pm	Evening Service followed by celebration of Holy Communion
St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day – 26th December)	10.00 am	Holy Communion
	3.00 pm	Carol Service
Palm Sunday (16th March 2008)	9.30 am	Parish Communion begins in Old Kirk Braddan with a procession to the Parish Church led by Douglas Town Band

News of the Friends of Old Kirk Braddan

NEWS

At the AGM we feared that fundraising “Summer Fixtures” would have to be shelved due to the proposed necessary repairs to the church; and this could have included the Sunday Evening Services. However a delayed start to the refurbishment enabled us to complete a somewhat truncated programme of activities though the summer without interruption.

Evening Service followed by Holy Communion at 6.30 pm has been held on the first, third and fifth Sundays of each month since May, and will continue until the last regular Sunday Service on 21st September.

We have been able to welcome visitors to the Snowdrop Teas in February and the Strawberry Teas in June. And in between during May there was another wedding in Old Kirk Braddan -- after a gap of a couple of years or so. Also in May Kirk Braddan was one of the venues for “Praying the Keeills” this year, an interesting event enjoyed by about 50 visitors. Old Kirk Braddan was the final stage of the worship at Braddan following on from visits to the Parish Church and the Service Field. Acts of Worship at each of the sites were interspersed with a reading from the Life of St Brendan, the Navigator and an Illustrated Reflection on the Keeills of the Island. Those attending were reminded of the history and heritage surrounding Old Kirk Braddan as a place of Christian Worship in various forms which is documented in Bishop Mark’s Synod in 1291. The ancient Parish system was established and the site of the Braddan keeill (now the site of Old Kirk Braddan) was chosen as the Parish Church because of either its location or the dedication and sanctity of the site. Old Kirk Braddan had been the site of one of about 10 keeills throughout the Parish of Braddan. After the introduction of Christianity to the Island, probably between AD340 & 490, keeills built of earth and stone, were set up across the Island with one situated in every treen. (Viking-Age land divisions usually consisting of four Quarterland farms). The evidence for the existence of a keeill is substantiated by Celtic and Viking-age Cross slabs and inscriptions found on the site; these are now displayed within Old Kirk Braddan.

The graveyard around Old Kirk Braddan provides an excellent view of the Race Circuit around Braddan Bridge and we are pleased to welcome visitors into the grounds for the TT and the Grand Prix. Since there’s no formal seating there’s no charge, but donations are welcome towards upkeep of this historic site.   

These events during the season have helped to swell donations received from visitors to the church and graveyard who are here on holiday or just visiting the church from outside the Parish – we are most grateful to the generosity of all those supporting this charity and especially the two anonymous donors reported as an Addendum to the AGM: 

“Once upon a time” (as all good stories must begin) “a youngster visited Old Kirk Braddan and spotted and pocketed a coin – 10p or maybe it was long enough ago to have been a shilling! This child knew it wasn’t really the right thing to do, particularly taking money from a church, but it was done and no-one would be any the wiser – nor would they have been to the present day but for the child’s conscience! Time went by and the child became a teenager and eventually developed into a highly successful and responsible adult. But still in the background there was the awareness of an act to be ashamed of. Many years later Old Kirk Braddan was the venue for a repeat visit of this now Senior Citizen – how to make up for past misdemeanours? Inside this church, so well known in childhood, a notice explaining the cost of upkeep and expenditure for maintenance provided the answer! Now the conscience of this respected member of society could be cleared by making a meaningful donation.”

Believe this story or not as you will – but in next year’s Friends of OKB Accounts, when they are available, notice the significant sum ‘by an anonymous donor’.

Friends were also blessed with another anonymous donation this year from a funeral held in the Parish Church.

So we must be doing something right! 

These final donations mean that there will be a little left in the kitty towards more fundraising for another stage of restoration after the present project: restoration of the floor and woodwork in the pews on the northern side of the church – and you never know what we may find there!  We can but hope that this project will be completed during the winter so that we can again welcome visitors in style during the summer of 2009. And just as a taster to the facelift, the Athol Memorial has been cleaned – now looking resplendent (courtesy of Kirk Braddan Vicar & Wardens).

(For temporary closures of the church, watch this space and see local media.)

Forthcoming Events

Christmas celebrations on St Stephen’s Day (26th December)	10.00 am	Holy Communion
	3.00 pm	Carol Service accompanied by the Onchan Silver Band followed by mince pies and drinks in the Church Hall
Sundays 8th & 15th February	2.30 – 4.00 pm	Snowdrop Teas Tickets £5 from any Friend of OKB or pay at the door

Chairman	Peter Watson 19 Vicarage Park, Braddan, Isle of Man IM2 2QB 01624 629370
Secretary	Caroline McDonald Harold Cottage, Strang, Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4TE 01624 851782
Treasurer	Albert Dudgeon ACIB 7 Hilltop Rise, Braddan, Isle of Man IM2 2LF 01624 661769