Catholic Church in the Isle of Man Catholic Church in the Isle of Man The Catholic Church in the Isle of Man is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Although not part of the United Kingdom, for geopolitical reasons the Isle of Man is part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. There are Catholic churches in all of the main towns, the largest being St. Mary of the Isle in Douglas. A large percentage of the Catholics on the Isle of Man are Irish or of Irish descent. Following the English Reformation the allegiance of the Manx church to
Coat of arms of the Isle of Man "whichever way you throw, it will stand". This refers to the theoretical aerodynamical properties of the "triskele", which will supposedly always have a foot to land on whichever way it lands. The motto dates to 1668 when it is first recorded on coinage of the Isle of Man. The heraldic device of the "triskele" or "triskeles" has been associated with the Isle of Man for centuries. In 1405 Henry IV, King of England granted the Isle of Man to John Stanley (–1414), KG (whose eventual successor in 1485 was created Earl of Derby for his services to Henry VII at