On Sunday 8th February, at St Mary’s on the Harbour, Castletown, The Reverend Simon Archer was instituted and inducted as Vicar of the Parish of Arbory and Castletown.
The service was led by Bishop Tricia Hillas and attended by civic representatives, clergy colleagues, family and friends, members of the local community, and the congregations of both Arbory Church and St Mary’s on the Harbour.
Patronage of the Parish of Arbory and Castletown alternates between the Crown and the Bishop, and Simon Archer’s appointment comes under the patronage of King Charles III, Lord of Mann, so Simon was presented to the Bishop by the Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Sir John Lorimer.
Simon has served the parish as Priest-in-Charge since September 2023, having moved to the Isle of Man from the Diocese of Rochester. Over that time, he and his family have become firmly rooted in parish and community life, sharing in worship, outreach, and the everyday rhythms of island living.
The service included a sermon from Bishop Tricia and the act of induction by Archdeacon Irene Cowell, who herself was inducted to the same parish eight years ago on this date — a moment of particular resonance.
As Simon continues his ministry in our Diocese, we continue to hold Simon, his family, and the Parish of Arbory and Castletown in our prayers, for their shared life and ministry in the years ahead.
For latest news in the Parish, see the Facebook pages for Arbory and Castletown.