Marown Parish Church has been awarded £50,000 from the Manx Lottery Trust to install a new infrared heating system and upgrade its electricity supply.
The church’s current heating system, more than 240 metres of cast‑iron pipework dating back over 70 years, can no longer be used safely due to the risk of further leaks.
The project will replace the system and upgrade the building from an overhead single‑phase electricity connection to an underground three‑phase supply, along with improvements to internal wiring.
The work is considered essential following the closure of St Paul’s Church in Foxdale in 2023, while St Luke’s in Baldwin has limited accessibility and Old St Runius operates mainly as a festival church.
Louise Whitelegg from Marown Parish Church said the building is “much more than a place of worship; it is an accessible and welcoming space for people from across Marown and the surrounding communities.”
She added that without reliable heating, the church cannot offer the hospitality and activities local people rely on, and the funding “brings us much closer to securing the building’s future as a warm, sustainable and useful community space.”
Manx Lottery Trust Chairman David Christian said the church “plays an important role in an area where accessible community facilities are limited,” and that Trustees are pleased to support improvements that will “help protect the building’s future and allow it to remain a warm, welcoming space for the wider community.”
