HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will visit to celebrate the re-opening of Newport Minster next Wednesday following the church’s major refurbishment. Prince Edward, who is the Royal patron of the Friends of Newport Minster, will be among 400 specially invited guests at the service on Wednesday 1st May to celebrate the completion of the project. He will give a Bible reading as part of the service. He will meet some of the Island craftspeople, professionals, donors and volunteers, who include father-and-son carpentry team Nick and Sam Divers, and Paul ‘Butch’ Butcher, the site manager from Island builders Stoneham Construction. They have worked alongside the clergy, staff team and churchwardens on the project to create a new underfloor heating system, better toilets, new kitchen facilities, new seating and new meeting rooms. The refurbishment means the Minster is once again a spiritual and community hub for the Island, with a growing range of events for all ages. The church will reopen to the public on Friday 3rd May from 10:00-13:00 after its 7-month internal refurbishment. The first community group to use the building will be the Play Café toddler group on 7th May. Jacqueline Gazzard, chair of the Friends of Newport Minster, said:
“Our aim all along was to see the church start to come to life again. It is one thing saving important bricks and mortar, but creating community is much tougher and yet that is what is happening here. We’re delighted that our royal patron – who has supported this project right from the outset – will be there to celebrate alongside us. “We are proud to boast a building with new purpose, that local island people have made possible. This extraordinary building is going to be busy all year round and also warm for the first time in decades!”
The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Dr Jonathan Frost, will lead the re-opening service, and the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, the Ven Steve Daughtery will preach. Students from local schools – including the ecumenical Christ the King College in Newport – will be among those leading worship as part of the service. Other readings will be given by other community leaders.
The village idiot returns. Of course he won’t be using any of the ferries, only a private helicopter, that we all pay for. Wonder if Jerk Jordan will attend and rant at him.
why do we have to put up with all this fanfare over someone who was born in to the lap of luxury – heaven only knows why people grovel and fawning at the feet of these people.
Abolish the monarchy I say. Worthless the lot of them.
says the bloke on benefits
The so called royals are the biggest benefit scroungers I think you will find.
Does Eddie know it’s 50p to use the toilets
hope he brings his hard earned cash with him.
I wonder how much his Ferry Fare is, surely he won’t be flying in,
he knows how passionate his brother and nephew is about the climate.
I guess the private helicopter “Heir Force One” is being polished up now for his highness.
Hope so, & hopefully the left had to polish it!
Worked on this project with Nick, Sam butch and Justin , the job was fantastic, in joyed it while I was there and had great fun with Ruth the archaeologist and friends from the minster
I think you belong to a clan of miserable old moaners wo can’t think about anything wonderful in life. Good luck with your futures