Gazing at Saint Columba’s Roman Catholic Church, imagine the sands shifting beneath the original structure. That earlier church, built in 1923, couldn’t withstand the stormy weather. The need for a permanent place of worship in Port Erin became clear. The growing seaside resort community, with both residents and tourists, needed a steadfast sanctuary. Saint Columba’s Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament to that need. The original church, a simple rectangular stone building, served the community until 1987. Then, an ambitious expansion transformed Saint Columba’s. The Liverpool archdiocese, along with local benefactor Albert Gubay, funded the project. Architect Martin Henihan, of Henry J. Lyon & Partners, redesigned the space. The 1996 renovation incorporated the original 1923 structure. The sanctuary shifted to the center of what was the north wall. The original east and west ends became transepts. A new nave and parish hall extended the church significantly. Inside Saint Columba’s, remnants of another church grace the space. A font and stained glass windows, salvaged from the demolished United Reformed Church in Douglas, add character to the interior.
The Curragh Nature Reserve
Wallabies in the Isle of Man? The Curragh Nature Reserve is full of surprises. This wetland area has a rich