Castletown - Ancient Capital of Mann

The Methodist Church, Castletown, showing the interior after new decoration June 2004

Castletown Methodist Church traces its story back to the visits of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, to Castletown in the eighteenth century. It is sometimes known locally as Arbory Street to distinguish it from Malew Street when the former was the Wesleyan Methodist and the latter the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

These two denominations were part of the union which formed the current Methodist Church in 1932 and the two congregations in Castletown united in the one building in 1975. Malew Street Chapel is still a landmark in the town but is currently an office development.

Castletown Methodist Church is part of the Castletown Circuit, one of three Circuits in the Isle of Man District which in turn is part of the British Methodist Connexion. The church shares three ministers with the ten other churches of the circuit. The Superintendent Minister, Rev 'd Stephen Caddy, is resident in Castletown while the other two live in Port Erin. The Minister in Local Appointment is Rev'd Kath Corkish.

The other churches in the Circuit are at Ballabeg, Ballafesson, Ballagarey, Ballakilpheric, Colby, Croit-e-Caley, The Howe, Kerrowkeil, Port Erin and Port St Mary. The Church has services every Sunday Morning at 10.30 a.m. and either a service or a fellowship meeting every Sunday evening at 6.30 p.m.

On the third Sunday of every month the morning service of "All Age Worship" is an inclusive service so that all ages can worship together.

On the other Sundays there is a Sunday School also at 10.30 a.m. Including ministers there are fourteen Preachers in the Circuit regularly taking services and a timetable of who is where and when is printed four times a year. This is known as The Plan and copies are available at the church or on request.

Castletown Church has a second Sunday School in Ballasalla. This meets in the Scout Hall at 10.00 a.m. every week. On the third Sunday of every month this becomes a Family Service so that parents and others can join the children in worship.

The "Craft Workshop" meets meets from 2.30-5.30pm on Tuesdays in term time only and open to Toddlers and school aged children - £1 per child to include craft materials, Talk, drinks and snacks.

Castletown Methodist Church held a "Christmas Craft Workshop" in the October 2002 half term school holidays. A separate page records the "Christmas Craft Workshop.

There is also a Sunday School which is in operation each week apart from All Age Worship. Sarah Griffiths takes the 3-years plus children and Walter Callister takes the older children, generally after the second hymn in the Service.

There will not be an All Age Worship Service in August owing to it being a 'holiday month'; the next Age Worship Service is at 10.30am on Sunday 12th September.

The Tuesday Ladies Group was started by Sister Lynne Sylvester (she is now in a Circuit over in the UK) approximately 4 years ago. It is a social group for the Southern Circuit for the Methodist Church although other denominations (and even non-Church goers) are encourage to our meetings which are (usually) on the second Tuesday each month. Sarah Griffiths is currently putting together the 2004-5 Programme featuring a variety of Speakers. Visits, meals etc planned. If anyone is interested in more information on the Group they can contact Sarah on 01624 834632 or by e-mail

Throughout the year there is a varied programme of events. News of Castletown and the other churches in the Circuit can be found in 'The Methodist Monthly' a local publication with a self-explanatory title.