Friends of Ballaugh Old Church is a community group formed to support the iconic and ancient church. The records start in 1408 but it is believed there was a religious building on the site since the 12th century and possibly earlier. The current church was rebuilt in 1717 and its familiar crooked gate pillars, hold a special place in the hearts of many in the Isle of Man.
A dwindling congregation meant the church was possibly going to close, so the Friends of Ballaugh Old Church was created to ensure it remains open to the public for prayer, reflection and community events.
Working under the umbrella organisation of the charity Churches of the Northern Plain, the Friends have organised new weekend opening from spring 2023 and is fund-raising to enable the building to host community and cultural events.
The Friends are working with Manx Wildlife Trust to re-wild parts of the churchyard. It held a BioBlitz event with the charity, open to all, with activities to establish what is living in the churchyard and is developing a plan to improve the area for wildlife. It hopes to work with other local conservation groups too and be a regular source of information and inspiration for nature, holding many events for the community.
Plans for the near future include benches and a picnic table where people can sit and admire the church’s beauty, keeping Ballaugh Old Church a vital part of the local community.
By joining the A-Rocha Eco Church initiative and following in the footsteps of other local churches such as Dalby, the Friends hope to involve the local community and primary school in its plans. One exciting venture is to create a new initiative “Wild Churches of Man”, sharing ideas and inspiration to encourage nature, as well as breathing new life into these wonderful churches, securing their place and nature’s place at the heart of the community’s wellbeing.
