St Peter’s Church in Onchan is facing greater challenges and changes than perhaps at any other time in its storied history at the heart of village life.

Facing £300,000 of repairs and the regular problem of smaller congregations, St Peter’s issues are not unique: the island with roughly one Christian church for every 900 residents perhaps more than anywhere typifies the concern that Christendom is asset rich but cash poor.

Reverend canon Clive Burgess, however, believes the church is still at the heart of the village.

’For local communities, these buildings are a part of its history and heritage, from christenings and marriages to funerals,’ he said.

’Now it is perhaps time to reconsider how we can use the church going forward.’

The canon detailed the repairs needed to the building, including to large sections of the church’s exterior.

Damage caused by damp in the walls needs repairing and the tower needs repointing.

Recent repairs to three stained glass windows, at a cost of £25,000, was aided by the Clucas Trust and other generous donations, although the church being a registered building only adds to the costs of repair.

A parts of these repairs include the removal of the church pews to be replaced with seating that will allow greater flexibility for the church going forward in both its religious and social usage.

Canon Burgess said these changes would provide greater access for wheelchair users, which he admits it currently lacks, making some services difficult to attend for elderly or disabled members of the congregation.

The church is ’part of the heritage of the island, with Celtic crosses and church locations in historic areas like Onchan’ he said.

But he said it is also part of the island’s future.

His plans for the future include a continuation of current church functions, serving the local schools when they require them, which he is quick to point out, the church doesn’t charge for as the church is there for the community as a whole.

There are also plans for a film club or other afternoon activities for members of the island community who may suffer with loneliness.

Canon Burgess explained, he sees us all as ’pilgrims on a journey’ and ’custodians’ believing it doesn’t necessarily matter if you are Christian, the church must and will serve its role as a ’space for everybody’.

In March last year, the Isle of Man Examiner reported that St Peter’s was searching for more burial land.

Canon Burgess estimated they have two years of land remaining at most.

He praised the efforts of Onchan District Commissioners, the Department of Infrastructure and Julie Edge MHK and Rob Callister MHK in assisting the church.