fishermenschapel

It was great to have a full house for our Midwinter Carols with the Famous Potatoes and guests on Sunday 16th December. Thanks to the band and everyone who helped with refreshments, etc. Here’s a sample for those who couldn’t make it – a video of the carol medley at the end of the service.

The Famous Potatoes can be hired for parties and events – see their website, here.

There’s a Facebook event page here – Midwinter carols – keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of events in the New Year.

We had a brilliant day celebrating the 270th birthday of The Fishermen’s Chapel on 25th November.

The 270th anniversary of the Methodist ‘Society’ in Leigh-on-Sea is November this year (the actual date is the 21st). We held a special celebration, ‘Fishermen’s Chapel Fest 270’, on the afternoon and evening of Sunday 25th November.

We had a rolling programme of music and other events throughout the afternoon and evening, with contributions from lots of the people who currently use the Chapel.

A few photos:

The Thamesside Mummers performing

Listening to foghorns, with Jennifer Lucy Allan

Jennifer Lucy Allan

Paul Wornell talks about the history of the Chapel

The Monday Singers

The Waterside Choirs

You can print the programme here – right click on this link and choose ‘Save target as…’ or similar: Chapel Fest Programme (pdf)

Programme for Sunday 25th November 2018

2.30 An Introduction & Welcome to our anniversary celebration by our minister Rev Peter Moorhouse who 3 years ago felt ‘called’ to serve as Superintendent of the Leigh & Southend ‘Circuit’ of Methodist churches (which actually includes Canvey, Thundersley, Rayleigh, Hockley, Rochford and Great Wakering), and thus forsaking his Cheshire roots (but not the accent!) with family in tow.

2.45 Drama from the Thameside Mummers –formed in 1971 to perform traditional Mumming plays. Based in Leigh they perform plays at a variety of events around Essex and further afield. Mumming plays usually feature St George and a host of other characters, including a Turkish Knight and a Quack Doctor. The play that the Mummers will be doing on this occasion is a traditional Christmas play complete with Father Christmas.

3.05 Some audio & visual excerpts from Whitewolf Films – there years ago Mike and Bart forsook London and regular jobs to start up a new venture using the ‘desk share’ facilities at the chapel. They have managed to secure commissions from some rather well known musicians and with their young families have embraced the delights of living on the edge of our beautiful estuary.

3.25 A PhD on Foghorns by Jennifer Lucy Allan – three years ago Jennifer needed a desk to work on her foghorn research, which captures the history of a fast disappearing sound from around our coasts. How do foghorns work? What do they sound like? Why can’t you hear the foghorn at the end of Southend pier? 

3.50 Tea break downstairs

4.20 A visual guide to the chapel by our resident cartoonist Dave Walker – who found in the Chapel quiet (well, sometimes) working space to allow inspirations to mature into classic cartoons. Dave is the cartoonist for the Church Times and has published books of cartoons, most recently ‘How to Avoid the Peace’ and ‘The Cycling Cartoonist’.  

4.40 An illustrated account of the 270 year story of the Chapel by our caretaker Paul Wornell – the end result of delving into various archives including the diaries of John Wesley.

5.10 Yoga teacher and psychotherapist Nicole Schnackenberg – will reflect on some of the possible benefits of yoga and mindfulness for food and body image struggles; including disordered eating, body dysmorphia, excessive dieting, fears about the ageing process and generalised food and body image concerns. We will finish with a short mindfulness practice for increasing our interoceptive awareness (the lived experience of the body from the inside) and thus connecting with internal signals like hunger and fullness. Nicole is author of ‘False Bodies True Selves’ (2016), ‘Bodies Arising (due 2019) and editor of ‘Reflections on Body Dysmorphic Disorder’ (2016). 

5.30 Following on from the fascinating introduction to Nicole’s work we will take some time with Heather Simmons to experience a quiet mindfulness/meditation session to give a taste of the regular formula of every 4th Sunday at 7.15pm. All are welcome to join us although our sessions aim to support those suffering from anxiety and depression.  The mindfulness is not religion based, however we do say a short prayer of thanks at the end (optional). So, if you have never tried mindfulness or you love it please join us for this beautiful, candlelit taster session as part of the Chapel Fest!

5.50 Contemporary harmony from The Monday Singers – first formed in 1969 as an alternative to a traditional church choir in Eastwood. Although there have been many personnel changes over the years, we still have quite a few long term members. We sing mainly “folk” inspired songs, however our repertoire consists of songs by as diverse a range of artists and singers as Crosby Stills and Nash to Michael Jackson and include Annie Lennox, the Beatles, the Isley Brothers and Tom Paxton to mention just a few more. We like to sing songs with a positive message and for the last year or so we have enjoyed singing once a month at the Sunday Vespers here at Fisherman”s Chapel.”

6.20 – Tea break downstairs

6.50 Energised harmony from the Waterside choirs – a multi-award winning community choir. They sing contemporary songs such as Happy, Desperado, Eleanor Rigby, Life on Mars etc. All the arrangements are by Grammy- nominated musical director and his professional jazz singer wife! Come along and see if you would like to join them!

7.20 Now join in our Multi genre Songs of Praise; from Charles Wesley to Caleb Dinger, with our gospel choir.

8.00 Wrap it up – Rev Pete

NB all timings are approximate

You can also join our Facebook event for Fishermen’s Chapel Fest 270.

We had our first cafe-style service at the Chapel on 17th November 2019. A combination of coffee (other drinks available), prayer, and practical action.

We hope might become a regular fixture – keep an eye on our website, Facebook and make sure you’re on our email list for news about the next one.

The Chapel was a collection point for donations of sanitary products for The Red Box Project Southend, but this project has now come to a close. 

What is the Red Box project?

The Red Box Project quietly ensures that no young woman misses school because she has her period.

Working as a nationwide community of women, The Red Box Project seeks to provide free sanitary items for the young women in our local schools

Photo (top): Handing over the donations for the Red Box Project collected at the Chapel. Thank you everyone!

Happy Times, our pop-up day care sessions, are for the elderly and their carers, on Thursdays in our downstairs community room, 10am until 12. Each week there will be a different activity for you to enjoy. There is no charge but any small donation towards refreshments and heating will be welcome.

The room is toasty warm! There is parking opposite the church, and blue badge holders are free.

We look forward to welcoming you!
Paul Takawira and Heather x

Thanks to everyone who came along on 8 December to make a lantern before the carol singing on Strand Wharf. Please come again – explore the rest of the website to find out what’s on!

Find out more on the Facebook event page.

Thanks to everyone who came to our Midwinter Artisan Market on the 3rd of November. It was great to have so many people in the Chapel and enjoying work by our fantastic local makers. Thanks too to everyone who organised, served the refreshments, and helped setting up and packing away. Watch this space for details of our next Market!

• • Facebook event
  • There are some pictures on Instagram and Facebook

Note: this session isn’t currently running – contact Nicole (info below) for future plans.

A gentle yoga class suitable for all ages and stages of yoga practice. In the Chapel community room on Tuesday evenings from 7.30pm until 8.45pm. Term time only.

Please bring a yoga mat and blanket.

Donation Class (suggested donation-£7). Drop-ins permitted (no need to book).

I look forward to seeing you on the mat!

Contact Nicole on 07931968611, nicole.schnackenberg (at) gmail.com

Thanks to everyone who supported our Artisan Market on Saturday 16th June.

Some pictures of work from the artisans who were selling their exciting range of handmade crafts at our Summer Artisan Market.

For more details and pictures see the Facebook event page.

[Update: Creativity club isn’t running at the moment]

Do you need a break from the hamster wheel of life? Then you need the Creativity Club!

“But I’m not creative’, ‘I can’t draw/paint’, ‘I’m not artistic”, I hear you cry. Then you’re just who we’re looking for!