Hooked on "An Island Parish"

Ok I'll admit it. I'm now hooked on the new series of "An Island Parish".

I wasn't quite certain that the Reverend David Easton, the out going Methodist Minister on the Isles of Scilly, should have been filmed putting on a bra prior to his appearance as a pantomime dame. It gave a new angle on the concept of being "defrocked".

However the later scenes of him talking over problems with various islanders gave some indication of the sort of things that Methodists - not just Ministers - do every day of their spiritual lives. Only this morning I was rang at 5.00 am by a drunk "asylum seeker" (we have learnt that there are asylum seekers and "asylum seekers" - there is a difference) demanding my undivided attention.

There was a much more positive view of the church than in the previous series. I was a bit puzzled though, that while the programme ended with a reference to David Easton's re-stationing (he is guaranteed a posting somewhere in the UK) there was no reference to the difficult process underway to appoint a successor.

The difficulties the new Minister will face were hinted at when it was pointed out that the vet's wedding would not be held in the Methodist Chapel because David would have left by then.
I don't know who the new Minister is, but I hope there is not an unofficial campaign to blank him out on Scilly. Perhaps someone on the spot would let us know?

Meanwhile it was great to see Steve Wild the Methodist "Bishop" of Cornwall. I met him briefly at conference and for about half an hour (quite by accident) when I was in Cornwall earlier this year. I've revised my judgment. I think he was poorly served in the last series - possibly deliberately by the film makers - but in tonight's piece he came through with flying colours.

Incidentally I note that the Anglican vicar has been noticable by his abscence. It would have been interesting to see an Anglican defend their policy of refusing to marry divorced people, one of the reasons why the vet had considered, then rejected, getting married in the Methodist Chapel.

I still think, overall, that the Anglicans were right to stay out of the subsequent series. Has anyone within Methodism any evidence that David Easton's contribution has helped build the reputation of the Methodist Church?

If you want to read other articles by Methodist Preacher on the An Island Parish series just click the label "An Island Parish" below.