Most of the activities at the Fishermen’s Chapel are only possible because of the work of a team of volunteers. Could you help us out? Here are some of the latest jobs that we could do with some help with. All roles are voluntary. There are more jobs to be added, so do check back! To volunteer for any of these roles please contact us via email, or talk to us in person at a Wednesday coffee morning or another event. If you have any questions – do ask. Thank you!
Coffee morning refreshments Setting up, serving and clearing away refreshments at our lovely sociable Wednesday coffee mornings. These take place every Wednesday from 10 until 12. You don’t have to bake flapjack (though we can give you the recipe if you want to!).
Chair stacker
We need someone to help stack and unstack chairs before and after the Sound Bath sessions that happen in the Chapel once a month.
Painters
There are quite often painting jobs that we need volunteers for in the Chapel. Could you come and join a painting party?
Reserve pianist
We are looking for someone who could play the piano occasionally at Sunday morning services when required. Would need to be happy playing hymns, and be confident sight-reading.
Leaflet deliverers
We deliver leaflets to people in the streets around the Chapel before our Artisan markets, special events, and at Christmas, etc. We could do with some help delivering leaflets. As much or as little as you can do – it all helps.
Do you have other skills that you’d be willing to use at the Chapel? Please let us know!
The Fishermen’s Chapel is a mission-led church that aims to respond to God’s love already present in the community.
We are doing this by welcoming everyone, and in particular by supporting three different groups of people:
Artists and Musicians
Leigh-on-Sea is a community filled with artist and musicians who have been badly affected by the pandemic. The nature of self-employment can be isolating and sometimes financially and spiritually demanding. Our chapel offers the walls of the Community Room to display (free of charge) local artists work and endeavours to promote the artists using social media. We also support local musicians and actors by keeping our rents very affordable for hiring the room. We have a band, The Daisy Bowlers, who perform from time to time donating all the ‘teapot’ collections to local charities. We also run a free to attend gospel choir andweekly coffee morning where we encourage a time of getting together and support.
HARP
At our very popular monthly Gospel Service, supported by The Fishermen’s Chapel Gospel Choir and The Monday Singers, we ask everyone to bring food/toiletries to the service. These gifts are then delivered by volunteers to HARP ( a local homeless charity).
People with Anxiety/ Depression/ Panic Attacks
We looked into what our Leigh-on-Sea community was struggling with and we noticed that many people were stressed by the high pressure jobs and lives they lead. In response we now hold a monthly Mindfulness and Meditation time. This is free to attend and is open to everyone of all faiths or none. We have had had lovely feedback about the sessions and how welcoming and supportive they are. We also have useful contacts of counsellors should anyone need more professional help. We also hold Sound Bath events, run by Fiona Tudor-Tomkins.
If you would like to attend or further support any of these groups please get in touch or come along to any of our services or events – ALL are welcome.
We wish to make it clear that we have no connection with Fake Festivals Ltd and that this is not one of their events.
The Fishermen’s Chapel hosted a 3 day fundraising festival for the Leigh Folk Festival on 28th – 30th June. Thank you so much to everyone who supported the event. Some amazing musicians generously offered support and played upstairs, and a cafe downstairs raised funds for the Chapel. Everything donated will go to the Leigh Folk Festival, and you can still donate online – see link below.
FESTIVAL BIO!
3 DAYS OF MUSIC & ART
FUNDRAISING FOR Leigh Folk Festival
We interrupt our artist introductions to let you know a little bit more about the Fake Folk Festival!
A misty morning in December 23 The Fishermen’s Chapel inspirational Minister Heather Simmons reminded us there would be no Leigh Folk Festival this year. Yes that’s right. Wait. What?! No Leigh Folk Festival in 2024! Oh. Sense of Loss.
Hard to imagine a Summer in our community without the LFF, collective annual moment shared with old friends and new, favourite local bands playing their songs – our anthems, new musical gem discoveries, a chance glimpse of heroine and hero.
And lots of fun and laughter.
All free, the largest free folk festival in the UK.
Folk music filled the Chapel, Chapel Members, friends and family meeting together. New beginnings and ideas.
The Chapel, long time shared venue for the real deal LFF, so for one year only, it was decided, we’ll host the Fake Folk Festival! Let’s help our LFF friends to bring it back for 2025!
We have been overcome by the generosity of local musicians and artists who have allowed the idea to blossom. Thank-you to everyone who is playing, displaying art work, sewn decorations, lent equipment, made cakes, offered to steward, collect donations, promoted…
And thank you to everyone who plans to show up and support, we hope you enjoy the shows, and if you’re able to, please do donate to bring back Leigh Folk Festival in 25
Serving his apprenticeship in numerous bands in the hotbed of the Southend-on-Sea pub rock scene M G has been quietly working at creating rich and evocative story songs since 2013. Garnering praise from reviewers like Uncut describing his work as “gorgeous in a word” and R2 listing him as “a weapons grade songwriter.
M G’s songwriting creates vignettes of ordinary life and seaside communities. This writing is no better shown than in his 2021 album Clifftown, a themed album based on his personal experiences and the wider hidden histories of his hometown, Southend-on-Sea .
M G has recorded in The Fishermen’s Chapel and is thrilled to be performing here again.
Scottish singer-songwriter and Rough Trade Records recording artist Samantha Whates is a hugely respected figure on the London folk & roots scene. Her beautifully crafted, poetic songs retain a strong affinity with her Scottish roots, cultivating a sound that is thoroughly contemporary, rooted in tradition, yet uniquely her own.
Amongst a digital mountain range littered with accomplished folk-ish bands and singersongwriters, it is a rare miracle to come across a cave so rich in jewels as the one beneath Ida Wenøe’s ribcage. Clash Magazine‘s description of her sound as being “bewitching acid folk with a deeply personal edge…”
An evening of traditional, laid-back blues from star players.
WEST WESTON is one of the world’s top blues harmonica players. Artists he has toured and recorded with include the late Wilko Johnson, Who singer Roger Daltrey and leading Scandinavian band Trickbag. He is a member of US bluesman’s Mud Morganfield’s touring band and has been featured with many other American acts. West Weston has been a fixture on the international blues scene for many years, whether collaborating with others or leading his own band, the Bluesonics.
MARTIN McNEILL is well established as a solo artist and bandleader, with soulful slide guitar playing his trademark. Martin was a finalist in the 2024 UK Blues Awards and was runner-up for record of the year in 2020. He runs regular sessions at Leigh Community Centre, where he is joined by guest players. Martin’s festival appearances in recent years include Sidmouth Jazz & Blues, Rye Jazz & Blues, Swanage Blues, Broadstairs Blues Bash and the Dart Festival.
TIM HUSKISSON is one of Essex’s busiest musicians, especially well-known on the jazz circuit, where he plays everything from Dixieland through mainstream jazz to fusion. His expertise both as a clarinettist and pianist keeps Tim is high demand; on this occasion he will be on the keyboard. Tim has a particularly strong, instinctive feel for blues and has gigged with both West Weston and Martin McNeill many times over the years.
For this show, vocals will be shared between West Weston and Martin McNeill. They will delve into their pool of experience to produce an intimate evening of blues with feeling and spontaneity.
Access is via a stepped ramp. There will be a 0.0% bar.
Heather Simmons is our minister at the Fishermen’s Chapel. Heather writes:
Dear Chapel Family and all reading this letter,
I am delighted and privileged to be the Minister here at The Fishermen’s Chapel.
We hope always to give a warm welcome and to be completely inclusive to all. Wherever you are on your faith journey we hope to be able to serve you with our variety of different services. We are also open to suggestions and welcome your input.
We are a Methodist chapel with a mission ~ we aim to support our arts and music community as well as those suffering with mental health issues and we donate regularly to Southend Foodbank. Again, if you think of more ways we can actively support these communities we would love to hear from you.
For me personally, in a world that is full of pain and misuse, I find my faith a real source of comfort, inspiration and purpose, but above all it gives me hope. Because I feel completely loved by God, I feel I have the capacity, with God’s grace, to love everyone. Choosing to do that is a moment-by-moment decision and like us all, I don’t always choose wisely. Coming to church helps remind me to make choices that benefit all God’s people and God’s planet. If you would like to wake up every day excited to bring joy to all around you, and to feel a wonderful sense of purpose and belonging, then come and join us here at The Fishermen’s Chapel to praise God who makes it happen!
We would love you to join us.
God bless you all,
Rev Hev x
Reverend Heather Simmons
Probationer Presbyter
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It was wonderful to have so many people at the official welcome service for Heather on Monday (4 September) at Highlands Methodist Church, where we were joined by the District Chair, Rev Dr David Chapman. There are some photos below – sorry about the poor image quality.
Good morning! I am very excited to be starting at The Fishermen’s Chapel as the new minister. Before, I say anything else though – a HUGE thank you to our most amazing minister Rev’d Pete Moorhouse who has been a truly fabulous minister. Pete is not leaving us completely as he is Superintendent, but is handing on to me to serve you lovely people. Pete will now be looking after other churches and of course the whole circuit, so we will continue to see him, thankfully. So I begin by inviting you to join me on Sunday morning at 9.30am for our Holy Communion service – all welcome
Each month at our Gospel service we are setting ourselves a challenge – to do an act of kindness on a particular theme.
For November 2022: Support local makers and artists via our Artisan Craft Market. As this has now passed, why not think about other ways to buy gifts that are good for us and the planet via the Fishermen’s Chapel Gift Guide.
For October 2022: Help someone who is homeless
This could be in an obvious practical way, such as chatting to someone, or buying them something to eat. Alternatively there are some links below that might inspire you:
How can we celebrate Christmas, and give presents in ways that reduce waste, stress, and are good for the planet, our bank balances, and ultimately ourselves?
We were thinking about this question at our recent Anchored service at the Fishermen’s Chapel, and so we pooled our thoughts to come up with the Fishermen’s Chapel Gift Guide.
The Fishermen’s Chapel Gift Guide
We’ve divided our Guide into categories. You won’t be able to do all of them, but hopefully they might spark some ideas!
Food
Food is a great gift, as everyone loves good food, it’s something everyone can use, and it doesn’t clutter up people’s houses. Here are some suggestions we came up with:
Cakes. Suggestions were ginger or fruit cake – make a batch – but could be anything.
Gingerbread figures
Handmade sweets
Chutney. One option is to make it out of whatever you have growing in the garden (this does assume you grow things, I admit). So, for instance, green tomatoes that won’t ripen, or apples from your tree.
Homemade jam and chutney
Homemade sloe gin (OK, yes, we are a Methodist chapel…)
Crafts
The emphasis here is ‘whatever you make, make some of that’ to give as gifts – it’s about using your skills. You won’t be able to do everything here, but some of us suggested:
Knit something. One suggestion: a simple hot water bottle cover, using this pattern. People are using hot water bottles a lot these days, and it isn’t too complex a design… if you can knit.
Flower arrangements, using greenery from the garden, maybe combined with Christmas decorations
Make a wreath using a hanger, and tying lots of pieces of material on. This is one most people could have a go at!
Wreath, made from a hanger and strips of material
A painting you’ve done
Make your own Christmas cards. There are many ways to do this – too many to list. But you could use collage, stamping, drawing, photography, recycle other cards – there are so many options. Alternatively buy your cards from a charity, so they get the profit.
Make Christmas decorations – use your creativity!
Homemade Christmas decoration
Cover things in Christmas paper – jam jars, etc.
Buying local
Buying local crafts means that you’re supporting local people and local businesses, and not buying mass-produced items that have been shipped halfway around the world.
Unfortunately you’ve just missed our Artisan Craft Market, but there are lots of similar Christmas fairs on at this time of year.
Fairly-traded gifts
Buying fairly-traded items means that the people who made the items are being paid a fair price. We mentioned Traidcraft, but there are other sources of fairly traded gifts, such as Oxfam.
Secondhand and charity shops
Presents don’t all have to be new. You might be able to find the perfect gift in a charity shop, either locally or online. Again, Oxfam do a huge range of secondhand items online.
A charity donation
Lots of charities run ‘alternative gift’ schemes, whereby you donate and you get a card telling you what your donation has been able to buy. One example is the Methodist charity (we’re a Methodist chapel, for anyone just finding us!) All We Can – you can browse them here.
Alternatively one suggestion was to donate to a local charity, then make a card to give to the recipient.
Plants
For the green-fingered. Probably not one for this year if you aren’t already growing them, but in future, why not grow plants to give as gifts?
Flower arrangement
Crackers
Over 40 million Christmas crackers are pulled in the UK each year, producing a huge amount of waste. Often they contain plastic ‘gifts’ that are just thrown away. Why not make your own crackers? People will love them. You can get kits that have the cardboard outers, or you could find a template for the cracker body online. Then fill the crackers with gifts people might actually want to keep, devise your own party hats, maybe… and use your joke-writing skills!
Give your time
Someone suggested giving a voucher donating your time, maybe to help them with something. A great idea.
Thank you to Dilys, Eleanor and Matt for the photographs, and to everyone at our November Anchored service for the ideas. Do join us for the next one, in January.
Got more ideas? I’m sure we haven’t covered everything. Add them to the comments section under this post on our Facebook page.
Families fleeing the conflict have left their homes with only the items they were able to carry. Help us provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection.
2. All We Can and the Methodist Church in Britain have launched an emergency appeal in response to events unfolding in Ukraine. You can donate here.
To give physical items
A restaurant in Southend is coordinating the collection of items needed by the Moja Ukraina charity in Poland. Please see this Facebook account for the latest news of what is needed, and where to take it, but at the time of writing (14 March):
We will continue collecting items from the list previously posted until 31st of March. You can bring them to the restaurant (304 London Road, SS0 7JJ) in bags/ boxes.
If you have larger amount – please bring them to St. Alban the Martyr Church Hall (behind the church) (St John’s Road, SS0 7JZ Westcliff on Sea) on:
Tuesdays and Fridays between 5pm and 7pm!
Volunteers
If you would like to help us with sorting donations, packing etc – please pop to the Church during those times.
Many thanks for all your continuous support
Details of items required, but please check the Facebook page for updates:
We just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has already donated items for our Appeal for Ukraine. We have been overwhelmed with the generosity showed by the local community.
We are sorting donations daily to make sure all the help is shipped as soon as possible.
We need empty cardboard boxes and brown packing tapes.
We currently DO NOT need any more clothes (except from as stated below).
Most needed:
Bandages
Wide plasters
Gauze dressing
Mens underwear
Mens socks
Mens thermal pants and thermal clothing in general
NEW, NOT SECOND HAND
Baby bottles, baby food and formula milk
Dog food (wet/dry)
Cat food (wet/dry)
Disposible cutlery, plates, cups
Cough syrups (adults/kids)
Dioralyte
Diarrhoea tablets
Ibuprofen (adults and babies)
Paracetamol (adults and babies)
Hydrogen peroxide solution
Burn dressing/plasters
Batteries
Torches (head and standard ones)
Matches
Candles
Thermal Camping Mats (NOT YOGA MATS)
Ideally if one brings a box of one thing, not a mix of all as easier to sort out, but all donations highly appreciated.
We hope you enjoy your experience here today. If you ‘feel the spirit’ of our unique building you would be most welcome to join us for our regular gatherings:
9.30am Communion service, on the 1st Sunday of the month
7.30pm Gospel Vespers, on the 2nd Sunday of the month
Candlelit Mindfulness & Meditation, at 7.30pm on the 4th Sunday of every month
Coffee Morning every Wednesday, 10.30am until 12.
Daisy Bowlers’ charity music concert 2– 4pm on the first Friday of the month.
Details of all our events can be found here on our website, fishermenschapel.org.uk
Various choirs and music groups meet here regularly, and we welcome enquiries for remaining slots in the weekly diary. Our chapel is a popular venue for intimate music concerts, artisan craft markets, photography training, craft sessions, and much more besides – even wedding ceremonies! Contact us via the website.
The Fishermen’s Chapel is a Methodist Church, founded in person by John Wesley in 1748. We invite those who would like to play a part in the life of the Chapel to become Members. Or, if you would just like to volunteer in any way, e.g. with event refreshments, decorating, general maintenance, anything! Then contact us, as above!
