Gospel service

Our Gospel services, on the second Sunday of the month, are now taking place in the Chapel once again. The service features the Fishermen’s Chapel Gospel Choir, the Monday Singers, and a time when we share acts of kindness we have experienced. Feel free to arrive from 7 for refreshments, with the service itself starting at 7.30pm.

At Gospel Vespers we will now be collecting donations for Southend Foodbank. See here for the items that they really need (avoid pasta and baked beans!)

We’d love new people to join the Gospel Choir too – ask Heather for details at one of our services.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness is now every 4th Sunday of the month, 7.30pm at the Chapel.

An opportunity to take time out to be still.

Please do tell anyone who might find this a helpful session to attend.

New members welcome!

Photo by David Shields. Come and join us – we’ve got plenty of coat hooks!

It’s always great to welcome new members to the Fishermen’s Chapel.

We’d love it if more people joined the Chapel too! To find out how to get involved at the Fishermen’s Chapel and what it means to become a member, please see this page.

To keep up to date with all events at the Chapel please sign up to our newsletter.

Serendipity Sounds sound bath events

Fiona Tudor-Tompkins leads regular ‘sound bath’ Sound Healing Therapy sessions at the Fishermen’s Chapel – check this post and our social media for the date of the next one.

The next sound bath

Fiona writes:

8th November 7pm. Please book ahead (numbers below) and bring mat and enough clothes to stay warm.
Fi 🙏

Monthly sound bath – general info

There will be refreshments (for a donation) after the session.
The session will be about one to one and a half hours, sound bath with half hour for tea or chai and a chat afterwards.

Please be sure to let Fiona know in advance if you are coming, and bring mats, blankets, and a cushion or two if you need them.

You can find out more and all details below. Any questions – please contact Fiona via the numbers / email address below.

Natural Healing Therapy – Serendipity Sounds

Hello, my name is Fiona. I am a retired Occupational Therapist and a Registered British Assoc and Psychotherapy (BACP) Counsellor.
In my working practice, I provided many Relaxation Programmes, to clients with various Health Conditions. To tailor to individual needs and develop my practice, I began researching into other types of Therapies that would complement the Relaxation and Healing processes. With a strong interest in music, the use of Sound for Healing really appealed, especially as Sound Healing is now being acknowledged scientifically and has been used for thousands of years within different cultures around the world.

Sound Healing is a branch of the Meditative Therapeutic Arts; it is one of the top Wellness trends at the moment.

Sound Healing can be defined as the intentional use of sound to create a vibrational environment which becomes a catalyst in the physical, mental, emotional or spiritual aspects of our being. Sound is used to realign the body’s vibration. These vibrations can also affect your brainwave frequencies
Mark Menolascino, MD explains that “everything in the universe has a vibrational frequency… Those vibrations interact with every cell in your body.” In other words, the vibrations made by instruments or vocals can actually interact with your body’s cells to create specific results: in this case, to encourage healing.
While more research is needed to establish just how effective Sound Healing Therapy can be, so far there is plenty of evidence suggesting it is an effective option to help people suffering from pain injury or stress, reduce low mood – depression and anxiety.
Even without science of sound of vibrations, there’s also evidence that sound baths and music therapy can be effective for healing as it encourages your body into the parasympathetic state, in this state our bodies produce nitric oxide which open blood vessels and increases efficiency of our cells and regulates blood pressure. It helps stimulate the immune system. Sound healing can bring about a balancing and harmonising of the body’s energy systems.
Here at Serendipity Sounds, a selection of sound is created through Crystal singing bowls, Tibetan bowls, chimes, gongs and occasionally the addition of stringed instruments.

It is excellent for managing stress and improves your overall wellbeing
It is a space where you can come to quieten the distractions of your physical environment
It is a space where you can immerse your whole Self, Body, Mind and Soul
It is a space where you can turn off your Brains distractive thoughts

There will be opportunities for you to attend a variety of venues at Sharon of Scents and Serenity or at the Fisherman’s Chapel in Leigh-on –Sea, or The Bay – Free Spirit Studio in Thorpe Bay. I would love to share this wonderful experience with you and look forward to meeting you.
For enquiries please contact Fiona on: 01702 304479 / 07809153952
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serendipitysounds4u/
Email: serendipitysounds4u@gmail.com

Concerts at the Fishermen’s Chapel

Concerts at the Fishermen’s Chapel

Please see our Facebook page for details of Spring 2025 concerts

Autumn 2024 gigs

Saturday 26 October 2024, 19.30 MG Boulter and friends

Friday 15 November 2024, 19.30 Darren Jones – an evening of the songs of Paul Simon

Saturday 9 November 2024, 19.30 West Weston, Martin Mcneill & Tim Huskisson

Alcohol-free bar available. Access via a stepped ramp.

You can find tickets using the links in the Facebook pages, or via Wegottickets

Saturday 26 October 2024, 19.30 MG Boulter and friends

A very special evening is in store.

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…”

Access is via a stepped ramp.

There will be a 0.0% bar.


The muti-talented Darren Jones brings us the Paul Simon songs we all love.


Saturday 9 November 2024, 19.30 West Weston, Martin Mcneill & Tim Huskisson

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.

Artisan Craft Market – thank you everyone

Thanks to everyone who supported our Christmas Artisan Craft Market on Saturday 26 November.

It was a great event. Keep an eye on our website and social media for news of future events.

 

Thank you for Harvest Festival donations

It was wonderful to see so many people, including the 3rd Chalkwell Scouts and Guides, at our Harvest Festival service on 16th October.

Thank you for all your food donations for HARP.

You can continue to donate to them directly. From their website they need:

Donations for Ukraine

To donate money

1. You can make a financial donation via the DEC Ukraine Appeal.

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.

Leigh Folk Festival at the Chapel

We were delighted to host part of the Leigh Folk Festival programme for 2022. You can download the detailed programme and timings via this page on the Leigh Folk Festival website.

For those who visit us during the Folk Festival:

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!

Artisan Craft Markets

Our Mother’s Day Artisan Craft Market and Pamper Evening was on Friday 25th March, 7 until 9.30pm. Please follow our social media accounts for details of the next event.

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Come and buy a unique handmade gift, and bring your Mum too!

Invite your friends – there’s a Facebook event here with all the details: https://www.facebook.com/events/478737020499159

Music

We’re very excited to announce that music for the evening will be provided by the Silver Darlings, who will be performing downstairs at 8pm. Their debut album Maiden Voyage will be available. Take a look at their website here, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Cakes

From Helen’s Teatime Treats: “Looking forward to baking some delicious items for you to enjoy at the event or take away as a gift for Mother’s Day. Come along and enjoy a tasty treat!”

Other refreshments provided by the Fishermen’s Chapel team.

Treatments

Sharon Flewitt Massage
Why not book a slot with me and pick up a perfect present for Mother’s Day at the same time! I will offering taster sessions in either hand massage (£5 for 15 mins) or seated back, neck and shoulder massage (£10 for 15 mins). You can pre-book a slot by contacting me in advance – 07982742743.

Blush beauty by Lucy
Hello everyone I’m so excited to join you all! I will be offering file and polish or file and gel 💅🏼
The perfect excuse to get your nails done in time for Mother’s Day. Send a message to book, via @blushbeautybylucy

Stallholders

We have a wide range of local artists and makers, to include:
Hannah Faraway – Artist (painting and printmaking)
Emily and Louise – Bucket hats and bunting
Charlotte Walker – Handmade silver and stamped gifts
Nicky’s Wax Creations – Wax melts
Mrs Mosaic – Glass and mosaics
All Crafts Nanna – Textiles
Leigh Bees – Bee houses and bird boxes
Dizzy Di – Jewellery and dream catchers
Salix Moon Apothecary – Self-care and beauty products
Gypsea by Myrin – Jewellery
Lola Swain – Pottery

FAQs

1. Will there be cake? Yes, from Helen’s Teatime Treats (picture below). A variety of delicious treats for you to enjoy at the event or take away as a gift for Mother’s Day.
2. Where is it? The Fishermen’s Chapel, on New Road, Leigh on Sea. Just near the flyover to Old Leigh.
3. Is there parking? Yes, just over the road! And it’s free in the evenings. (Please take extreme care crossing the road to the Chapel)
4. Can I book treatments (massage, nails)? Yes – see details above.
5. Do I have to pay or book to enter? No, just turn up! Everyone welcome.

Info for stallholders

Unfortunately the tables are now all taken for this Artisan Craft Market, but please get in touch with Claire at themoltenpixie@yahoo.com if you might be interested in having a stall at future markets. If you could include details of the items you will be selling and webpage/Facebook link that would be great. Please note: our events are for those selling handmade items.

Community Crafternoon – 22 May

The ‘Community Crafternoon’ is about pulling together to support refugees fleeing from war.

We’re acutely aware of the plight of Ukrainian and international refugees and would like to raise some much-needed funds to help.

Our lovely event took place on the 22nd May between 11:00 & 3pm at The Fishermans Chapel in Leigh-on-Sea.

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We’ll have stalls, local live music, tea & cake, and the opportunity to make a square for a quilt that will be gifted once made.

Music:
Matt Linnen is from Southend, and made it to the semi finals in Series 14 of The X Factor as part of the Over 27s category, mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.

Love Won’t Be Long is singer Harriet Lambert, and guitarist Enzo Harrison from Leigh-on-Sea.

Story in the Echo: https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20141719.craft-cake-matt-linnen-help-raise-money-people-ukraine/?ref=ebln

There’s a GoFundMe page here if you’d like to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/community-crafternoon

For the latest updates follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/community_crafternoon/

You can find out more about Care4Calais here: https://care4calais.org/

[This event is being organised independently of the Chapel, so if you have any questions, or would like to help, please contact Kate, the organiser, directly via the GoFundMe or Instagram links above.]