Rifleman John William Baker (1894–1915) John William Baker was born at Churchill’s Farm, Dodpitts Lane, in about 1894, the son of Charles James and Georgina Kate Baker. His parents had married in Shalfleet Church in 1891, and they had 8 children, of whom John was the second. On the outbreak of the First World War, […]
We were absolutely delighted to receive a grant from the Choral Evensong Trust to help us lay on a beautiful service of Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer, followed by a Patronal Feast in memory of St Michael, our patron saint. Once again David McCulloch and the incredible Cantus Vesperi choir produced an […]
When people ask me what I do, I always get the same response: ‘Gosh, that is quite niche.’ I run a publishing company, and we publish bespoke hymn books and (very) bespoke diaries. ‘Diaries?’, they say. ‘Do people still use diaries?’ And then when I say that the diaries we publish are for churchwardens, they […]
We were delighted to welcome Years 5 and 6 of the school to the church for their annual carols, and Lizzie Grainger led a beautiful and uplifting service. The children began by helping to decorate the tree, and then there were readings and singing followed by jugs of hot chocolate and mince pies. This was […]
This year I set off on my bike, thinking on the way round of our dear friend Rev Clive Todd. Clive came as our rector in succession to David Bevington, and was given the daunting task of trying to pull twelve parishes together into a Mission Community in the West Wight. His cheerful approach to […]
As the summer comes crashing to an end, and the heavens open to dump on us all the rain they should have been dropping bit by bit over the past few months, we can sit back and reflect on the glorious summer we have just enjoyed. Not since 1976, I hear you say, have we […]
Well, that year came round quickly! There I was, minding my own business, when the annual call to arms came round for Ride and Stride. Friends and relations dived for cover, but my niece’s boyfriend Jon couldn’t come up with an excuse quickly enough, and so agreed to join me. We had a slightly comic […]
We were delighted on 28th July to welcome back to Shalfleet a Scout troop from Brockham in the Mole Valley area of Surrey. The troop travelled over to the Island in their distinctive red double decker bus, and attended our service in church, led by Rev Mark. The Brockham scouts have visited St Michael’s a […]