Tribute to a 'father figure'

The vicar of Marown, the Reverend Ian Davies, has been remembering the man he calls his 'mentor', who died earlier this month, aged 88.

Canon John Gelling was a well known Manx scholar, historian and academic, who wrote the definitive work on Manx churches and, once a year, conducted a communion service in Manx Gaelic at St Luke's in Baldwin.

Canon Gelling retired as vicar of Kirk Michael and Ballaugh in 1993, but continued to serve the church all over the Island.

Reverend Davies first met him when he arrived on the Island, from Carnforth in Lancashire, six years ago: