Marygate House Holy Island

10/06/2026

Island thoughts from Catherine: Last Saturday I spent most of the day in St Mary the Virgin Church here on Holy Island. Canon Sarah was away leading a group on another leg of the new St Aidan's pilgrimage route (more on that tomorrow), and had asked for a volunteer to be there to welcome some groups who had come to hold services in the church. They were scheduled around two hours apart so I ended up being in church most of the day. It was fascinating. I hadn't fully realised before that there is an absolutely constant stream of people coming in and out of the building. Many of you reading this have perhaps formed part of that stream on one or several occasions. I suppose I form part of it myself when I go for Sunday services! It's a very weird thing, partly wonderful (the opportunity to connect with those who know nothing about the Christian faith), and partly frustrating (if, like me, you don't like crowds and prefer controlled environments). It also pretty much rules out St Mary's as a venue for solitude or quiet reflection. And yet..... members of every group which came that day spoke to me afterwards about how special they had felt their time in St Mary's to be, how peaceful and holy this place is, how privileged they had felt to be holding a service in such a special place I'm still learning about the unique challenges and blessings of living on Holy Island. I found this picture online of the church empty, I can only imagine it was taken at 6 in the morning! But of course we mustn't long for silent deserted spaces, God is to be found in the midst of life and bustle....I think it says in the Bible somewhere that where there are no oxen, the stable is clean.

09/06/2026

Island thoughts from Catherine: Last week Rachael posted from a conference being held in St Martin's in the Bullring in Birmingham. I perked up when I saw this church mentioned because a while back, when I was thinking of moving to Birmingham, I travelled up a couple of times to join the Healing on the Streets team which works out of that church. One Saturday a month a group of Christians from across denominations prays together and then goes out to the market square outside the Bullring shopping mall. They set up a stall and invite all passers by to be prayed for. It's a wonderful thing. During my time with them I didn't witness any dramatic physical healings, but I did have some conversations which I could see really impacted the people concerned. One 'chance' meeting forged a connection between a youth pastor from Nigeria and a Christian charity which was looking for a partner youth worker to develop their mission in his particular area of that country. He just happened to be walking past while a trustee of that charity was part of the prayer team that day. Being reminded of St Martin in the Bullring gave me a very welcome nudge to remind me how God is never not working, never not aware of our needs, and never unwilling to be there for us.

08/06/2026

Island thoughts from Frances: Are you ready for the World Cup? All I'm hearing at the moment is negative press, from ticket prices being astronomically high across all venues to specific problems in some countries, such as water shortages in Mexico, where the mains water has been turned off for residents, in order to supply water to World Cup tourists. I was chatting to a friend in Vancouver this evening who is not looking forward to the next couple of weeks; the street next to his flat will be closed from tomorrow onwards, meaning all the local buses on which he relies will be diverted...
I predict that, once the tournament begins, all this will be forgotten! People will get together to watch matches and there will be the camaraderie of supporting each national team; there will be a coming together which will carry us through early Summer.
I remember having to read a book about Christianity in modern society which used Football as a metaphor for Christianity; the importance of the supporters (or congregation), the particular rituals of sport and religion, and the narratives of suffering and redemption... I wasn't totally convinced!
Nor am I totally unconvinced, though. The 5 a side football team we coached (I use the term loosely!) on the 'challenging' estate where I ministered in Newcastle diocese taught me the value of football as a team game. The lads (and apart from, later, one girl, they were all lads) came.off the streets where they roamed all evening and played to score goals themselves, no matter what! We entered them into a church league which met every other Saturday morning and this was the most tense day of my week: they beat each other up if they missed a goal and swore at the parents of the other side if their lads scored. We were a hair's breath from being kicked out a number of times! Then the metaphorphosis occurred; they learnt about being a team, looking out for each other. They learnt to care; I hope they will carry in their hearts the memory of Christians who gave them second, third and more chances... And they won; cup, league, best goalkeeper, best scorer; they wiped the board in the end!

05/06/2026

Island thoughts from Rachael: St Martin's in the Bullring had some beautiful creative pieces that I wanted to share with you.
Hidden amongst the busy centre of Birmingham, inside the thing that first captured my attention was the beautiful water feature - I'm not sure if it acts as a baptism font too... but I don't quite know how that would work! Anyway, its beautiful recreation of lilies and other fauna is a relief to this nature lover, especially compared to the busy metropolis outside the church.
Secondly, I wanted to share the artwork of the cross. It is a take on the traditional idea of a 'triptych' a three fold art piece depicting the crucifixion. In this work of art, the cross is placed in a scene of nature - the cross is a branch, and the body of Jesus as a piece of cloth, perhaps alluding to what would happen later when after Jesus' resurrection, when the disciples would find the grave clothes empty and Christ would meet them in His resurrected body. Meanwhile, the two magpies on either end of the branch symbolise the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus. (One of whom would mock Jesus, but the other would ask for forgiveness and would be promised paradise by Jesus.)
Another piece of artwork that captivated my imagination was the beautiful stained glass window at the altar - so very captivating to look at. The cross so vivid and bright that I was dazzled by it and stared captivated while listening to the speakers.
And lastly, I want to share a very fun detail - the vivid flowers in the choir stalls - another symbolism of nature coming into a very urban environment. These really felt like joy popping out all over the place - I really was rather taken with them.
It was a fascinating church to visit - and I am glad to have seen it. Yet, as I write this (a few days before it will be published) I am on my way home - already looking forward to seeing the wide skies of Northumberland again.

04/06/2026

Yesterday I attended Heartedge, a conference that explored how the church can welcome the stranger e.g. those who are on the fringes of society or those we don't normally interact with, and how we can make church more accessible and inclusive.
It was intriguing to meet people from both urban and rural parishes, to hear about the various challenges we may face, and how art and creativity can be the way we can help people to engage with the gospel in a tangible way. It also offered me a chance to reflect on the challenges experienced on Holy Island, which is truly a very unique environment to minister in! While both a rural parish with a small congregation, we also are attracting Cathedral-sized visitor numbers! How can we engage with those visitors in a meaningful way, while knowing that they could only be popping in for an afternoon or staying for a couple of days? How can we make the experience more accessible to those who perhaps are unfamiliar with Christianity or who find church a difficult experience? Hmm, good reflections to have at the end of a day!
The venue, which was St Martin's in the Bullring, was a fabulous venue, and I'll be posting more photos from there tomorrow!

03/06/2026

Island thoughts from Rachael: I've arrived in Birmingham! And on my taxi to my accommodation I saw a different type of creativity. Even just the short drive from the station fed my soul in a different way. The high rise buildings, hustle and bustle of the city, with people commuting from work, gave me an energy that I haven't felt or experienced in a while. I am looking forward to my 24 hours here and to seeing/hearing and being inspired during the conference I'll be attending.
I am truly at heart a countryside girl, and love the wide open skies of Northumberland, but I am excited to be here.
Hopefully I'll have more inspiring photos and messages over the next few days, but first of all, I must find my dinner!

02/06/2026

Island thoughts from Rachael: the other day I had an encounter with a seagull. While walking along St Cuthbert's beach in the gorgeous evening sunshine, I heard a chilling cry of a seagull, and turned around to see a juvenile seagull flying straight towards me! Thankfully I ducked (ooh, bird pun unintended!) out of the way just in time! It seemed to think it might be able to get food from me - alas, it was soon disappointed. Another interesting wildlife encounter here on Holy Island!
Lately, I've been seeing Facebook posts about the returning of orcas who are coming to feed on the seal population. They seem to mainly stay out towards the Farne Islands... How I would love to see them! Hopefully I might get chance to go on a boat trip when I have some annual leave.
The variety of wildlife here still leaves me in awe!
This lovely photo is from that night when I nearly got skewered by a seagull. The sky was truly beautiful, the soft colours of the last light from the setting sun painting the sky with muted pastels, the calm lapping waters, and the (unusually) balmy air that promised warmer days ahead.
Tomorrow, I'll be heading off to Birmingham - so I will hopefully be sharing more about my adventures in the next day or so!

01/06/2026

Phew- a day late but worth the wait (I hope); our June newsletter!

Contents

01/06/2026

Island thoughts from Rachael: the other week I was decorating some flames for Pentecost. Since moving to Holy Island, I have become more aware of the Church's calendar. Just yesterday, we celebrated Trinity Sunday, the celebration of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And throughout the time I've been here we have also commemorated numerous saints days, which I would perhaps have been unaware of before moving to the island. Being aware of the Church calendar, and celebrating the lives of the saints who have gone before us, helps to ground our faith and encourages us to keep going in our walk of faith.
I'm looking forward to using my painted flames for a lesson with the children from the local school soon - fun games are afoot!

29/05/2026

Island thoughts from Frances: You must admit that it's been quite restrained of me to go all through the month of May and not mention the Blessed Virgin Mary! However, this is the last time I'll be writing anything in May and on Sunday, if it wasn't Pentecost, it would be the feast of the Visitation of Mary to her older cousin, Elizabeth, so I could resist no longer!
I love this icon; it seems to represent the joy they had in meeting - rushing to greet each other, their wraps flapping behind them in the movement. Then there is the greeting, each with a hand over the other's shoulder, they are cheek to cheek.
What of their faces, though? I see in them a huge relief that they have met- they have so much to say to each other that no one else could know or would understand. There is love for each other as cousins; and there is concern there too (for child-bearing was always a risky business and especially for an old woman and a young bride).
The Visitation is my favourite feast of Mary, perhaps because May is my favourite time of the year but mainly, I think, because Mary can seem just too perfect, too remote. Here, though, she sets out to visit someone she can both confide in and support. She has needs, and she has empathy.
Today, I am thanking God for those people who offer; Come, and have a coffee sometime and who listen to me, work out my jumbled mind until I can see a way forward. I am thanking God that Marygate House is a place that people can 'rush to' when they need that right kind of companionship, which is the mental and spiritual space the Island offers; and the care the Team give here in the simple things of welcome and home-cooked food.
Finally, I am thanking God for Sue, one of our Companions, who has moved into my cottage for the week to work alongside Catherine and Rachael in caring for our guests.
We go to God not alone, but in company....