fishermenschapel

This year New Road Methodist Church is celebrating its relaunch as The Fishermen’s Chapel, emerging as a music, arts and community-based initiative connecting with the flourishing arts scene in the Leigh and Southend area.

Saturday 29 March was a day to celebrate this launch with an eclectic & atmospheric afternoon showcasing the immense potential of this beautiful & historical chapel.

Already a favourite venue of the Leigh Folk Festival, and with the fabulous Mid Winter Folk and Labyrinth under its belt, the launch event drew together diverse artists and performers to provide a chilled-out, enjoyable afternoon.

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Project manager Juliet Kilpin says, “The chapel is one of those buildings that often goes unnoticed, yet it houses a beautiful resource for the community and harbours a rich history of faith which is precious to the identity of Old Leigh.”

Alongside the worshipping congregation that continues to meet on the first and third Sundays of the month, several groups now use the chapel regularly, and the launch event gives an opportunity to meet and celebrate with some of these people. Resident cartoonist, Dave Walker, will be exhibiting some of his work, delivering a cartoon workshop and providing an art trail. Tuesday night regulars The Show Choir will be performing and local organist and Famous Potato Paul McDowell will be kicking things off with an organ recital on the chapel’s freshly tuned pipes.

There will also be an opportunity to hear a short history of the chapel from one of the church members.

The chapel hopes to encourage local talent so is delighted to be welcoming poets Ray Morgan (author of I Am The Swell of Each Wave) and Jo Overfield; local band Vacant Touch plus newcomers Humbug, an alternative Indie Rock band who have just released a demo track.

In the pop-up cafe Sarah Williams, a mixed-media artist with an interest in the language of textiles, will be running a workshop offering people the chance to consider the stitch as a method of drawing.

All in all the day offers a lovely free afternoon and visitors of all ages are welcome to pop in or stay all afternoon (as long as there is space!).

“There are many who have already discovered the captivating beauty of the chapel”, says Juliet, “but we hope that people who have not yet discovered us will come along and check us out and maybe even join in the adventure of re-imagining how this sacred space can continue to serve the local community.”

The launch day will conclude with a stand-alone ticketed event of ‘nourishment, stories and songs’ run by Made In Leigh Conversations in aid of Oxfam. Tickets for this separate event available at The Book Inn or on eventbrite.

The Fishermen’s Chapel: www.fishermenschapel.org.uk
Twitter: @newroadleigh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefishermenschapel
Juliet Kilpin: Twitter: @julietkilpin

Carols on Strand Wharf – Saturday 13th December 2014, 6pm – 7pm

Beforehand, from 4pm to 5.30pm, come along to the Fishermen’s Chapel in New Road and make a paper lantern. The lanterns can be made and bought for £1, and then everyone is invited to parade to Strand Wharf with their lit lanterns to add to the festive atmosphere. We will also have light refreshments available.

The music is provided by the excellent Belfairs School Wind Band, The Salvation Army Band, and the event is followed by mince pies for all.

Remember to bring a torch so that you can read the carol sheets handed out at the event.

(Image: Flickr)

ADVENTurous is a collaboration of artists, musicians, explorers and adventurers who want to explore issues of justice and peace.

The original ADVENTurous took place in December 2012 at Union Chapel in partnership with Union Chapel and Greenbelt Festival. This year ADVENTurous ii is on tour, visiting several unique venues and drawing together a new collaboration of like-minded creatives including Amos Trust and Engedi Arts.

As we embark on the season of Advent, a story literally birthed in Bethlehem, we adventurously explore themes of hope and anticipation. Through workshops, live music, discussion and art we enter the struggle for a just peace in Palestine and Israel and contemplate the peace required in our own lives too.

On Sunday 30 November ADVENTurous will be at the Fishermen’s Chapel. Info & reservations at adventurouschapel.eventbrite.co.uk

Sundown Arts turns 11 in November and there’s a celebration at the Chapel on Saturday 22 November. We have comedy from Sarah Bennetto, music from Cusack and The Diamond Family Archive, and spoken word from Sammy Crooks and Shirley Baker. 7-10pm. £5 entry.

Sundown Arts

A Writing Workshop Day took place at the Fishermen’s Chapel on Sat 8 Nov from 10-4.30. These are “How To” workshops organised by Wordsmiths Forum.

10 – 11                 Starting Young (Pamela Shine) tickets for this are £5 per family

11.15 – 12.15       Getting into Journalism (Paul Giles)

1 – 2                     That Important First Book (Tim Severwright)

2.15 – 3.15           Writing for Publication (Dee Gordon)

3.30 – 4.30           E-publishing (Simon Woodward)

Refreshments and incentives, e.g. discounted books etc., available on the day.

For tickets, email tickets@thewordsmithsforum.org.uk 

Do you want to improve your online presence?

Are you lacking confidence when it comes to social media?

What do you know about SEO?

Attend our essential one-day workshop from the leaders of arts organisation Sundown Arts covering how to promote your business, SEO hints and tips, and a social media masterclass.

The workshop will take place at the Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 2EA on Saturday 25 October from 10am til 3pm.  It costs just £15.  Lunch & refreshments will be provided. Places are limited so do book well in advance.

Read more about it and book here

M G Boulter and Samantha Whates played at the Chapel on 18 October. Here’s a great review:

Gigs don’t get any more intimate and personal than this. As we arrived at the Fisherman’s Chapel we were greeted with a candle lit path lighting the way up the side of the Chapel to the entrance at the rear. A relaxed atmosphere was imediately evident and the sense of stepping back into a simplier way of life filled our senses with the only one sharp reminder of modern ways momentarily breaking the ambience…… ‘did you pay online?’

The Chapel is a small hall containing numerous reminders of its Fishing heritage which Squeezebox Folk had so skillfully added too resulting in a truly maritime feel. An anchor, rope, sails, lanterns, fairy lights, an oar and bunting all scattered around with wonderful maritime imagery projected onto the high wall behind the main staging area. Every element of the environment ticked all the boxes for the sea and maritime theme the organisers were aiming for.

Read the whole review here.

Event page

“‘There have been quite a few theatrical productions marking the anniversary of the First World War… but perhaps none as accessible and as poignant as this.’ Colchester Gazette”

Jubilant Productions

presents

Merry It Was To Laugh There

An evocation of the First World War through poetry, diaries and music

With Christine Absalom & Tim Freeman

Sunday, October 5, 2014 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM (BST)

Merry It Was To Laugh There weaves together the poetry of the First World War with images and music to evoke the atmosphere and experiences of the men fighting in the trenches and the women waiting at home. At times moving, at times funny, it is a powerfuland thought-provoking piece of theatre.

Devised by the cast, Merry It Was To Laugh There moves from the early years of the war and the poetry of the poet soldiers such as Wilfred Owen and Seigfried Sassoon to the Armistice and the poetry of the ordinary Tommies and Woodbine Willy writing about their lives in the trenches.

The poems are interspersed with diary entries which are taken from the actual diaries of Captain K C Buchanan who served throughout the war and recorded his experiences in a series of small A5 notebooks. He served gallantly rising through the ranks and ending the war as a General Brigadier He wrote in pencil and inked in the words after the war. His diaries were kindly passed to us by Ken Massow for use in the play and are now with the Imperial War Museum.

Suitable for 14+ years

William Cole and Andy Flannagan playing live at the Chapel.

Monday 13th October at 12.30pm. See flyer for booking info.

Andy Flannagan is a story-teller, weaving hope and pain into songs that soar with beautiful, poignant melodies that betray his Irish roots. His battered Lowden guitar tells the story of fifteen years of acoustic minstrelling – at times mellow, but at times raging against all the things that break a broken world.

With a bowl of tasty curry and opportunity to meet people across a table, this event was an interactive and social occasion with Andy’s songs and stories providing a rich and thought-provoking narrative.

Photos of the evening are available here: Andy Flannagan photos

You can find out more about andy at andyflan.com

If you might be interested in running an event at the chapel you can find out more here.