Manx choristers sing hymn from top of Laxey Wheel

It was to mark  Ascension Day on the Isle of Man

Report from BBC Isle of Man

Twelve young Manx choristers have scaled the Great Laxey Wheel to mark Ascension Day.

It celebrates the Christian belief in the ascension of Jesus to heaven, 40 days after his resurrection at Easter.

The annual tradition sees Cathedral choirs climb to the top of their home buildings but the group from Cathedral Isle of Man in Peel cannot access that tower as it is too small.

Director of music Peter Litman said, while he initially thought it might be seen as "completely bonkers", Manx National Heritage embraced the idea when he approached the heritage body.

During a short service delivered by the Very Reverend Nigel Godfrey, the dean of the western cathedral, choristers aged between seven and 16 years old sang the hymn Hail The Day That Sees Him Rise, Hallelujah!

Dr Litman said singing and praying for the people of the village and the island, whilst being above them, was "very poignant".

"Formally we have celebrated Ascension Day every year, but we’ve never been up high because we’ve never had the facility to do that", he said.

"This year it really made a difference to the clergy and the small group from the congregation that also gathered below," Dr Litman said.

"It's something the children will probably never forget, every time they go back or go past it, they'll think 'oh I sang from the top of there'," he added.

Built in 1854, the Laxey Wheel is the largest working waterwheel of its kind in the world.

Known as the Lady Isabella, the Victorian wheel was originally used in mining.