As Father Roy was conducting Evensong on Lundy Island on Sunday 5 June 2005, a Group of intrepid travellers accompanied him. As a background note, this is an annual service held on Lundy on the Fifth Sunday of Trinity and is arranged in association with the Paddle Steamer, The Waverley. After leaving Penarth we sailed to Ilfracombe before sailing on the Lundy for Evensong.

The day will remain embedded in everyone’s memory (for different reasons!). The weather left a lot to be desired; rain, wind and a very ‘choppy’ sea (to say the least). As a ‘first ever’, Father Roy celebrated the Eucharist on board the Waverley and we were delighted to be joined by many other people sailing that day.

Evensong on Lundy was also a memorable occasion and at least it was dry in the church,
which was packed to capacity. (The Church designed by J Norton, architect of many town churches (which explains it’s somewhat urban appearance) dedicated to St Helena was built as a noble work of piety by the Reverend Hudson Grosett Heaven, owner of Lundy at that time. Whilst walking up the very steep path to reach the top, one could imagine with the mist descending that they were on the way to heaven. It was known as the Kingdom of Heaven. Until the Middle Ages, Lundy was a separate parish but today it has no rector of its own, being cared for by the Rural Dean of Hartland.)

Fortunately on the return journey, whilst it remained cold and wet,
the wind dropped and the sea was much calmer!