Music events at The Chapel

Events coming up in the near future are advertised on the Chapel Facebook page.

All tickets can be purchased via WeGotTickets

Coming up:

14th February 2026

My Darling Clementine. Nobody who came last time can forget that evening. They are back on tour and coming to us again!

For what began life as something of a side project for Michael Weston King & Lou Dalgleish, a labour of love, a homage to the classic country duets of the 60’s and 70’s, My Darling Clementine has grown and grown, and to some degree, has even overtaken the solo careers of it’s two main protagonists.

In a 13 year period they have released six critically acclaimed albums, a DVD collection, and played over 900 shows right across the world. The numerous accolades and awards they have won has placed the band at the forefront of the ever burgeoning Americana scene.

“King and Dalgleish have earned their place in the role call of great country duettists”(UNCUT).

“MDC mix country gloom with excellent musicianship and very fine songs.” (The Guardian).

“King and Dalgleish have re-invented the country duet” – The mingling of these two voices is just heavenly” (Mojo).

“One of the most exquisitely pained country albums of recent years comes from England” (New York Daily News).

We are very excited that Lou and Michael are coming to The Fishermen’s Chapel again. Last time was truly memorable.

Access is via a stepped ramp. There is a car park across the road. New Road, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 2EA

Tickets can be purchased via WeGotTickets


 

Taizé service

A change for our third Sunday of the month evening service: a Taize service, at 7.30pm.

Our Taizé services are based on the Christian worship practised by the ecumenical Taizé community in France (www.taize.fr). The service involves the repetitive singing of simple harmonised songs, interspersed with readings, prayers and periods of silence.

You’d be very welcome to join us!

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.

Bible study

Join us for our Bible Study: Rev’d Heather will be leading a group session at Highlands Methodist Church (Sutherland Boulevard, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 3PT) on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 2-3pm. All are welcome and each session stands alone. No previous knowledge is needed and you can come along to observe or join in with conversation. We meet in The Snug, which is a lounge-like room and accessible for all.

Lectio Divina

Every Wednesday evening Rev’d Heather and Clive Johnson ( Interfaith Minister) are offering a time of Lectio Divina.

Lectio Divina is a monastic practice used for Scripture reading and prayer that is gaining popularity among many Christians today. The term roughly translates to “divine reading.” Lectio Divina is not meant as an intellectual study of the Bible, but as a means of communion with God. The practice consists of four parts:

Lectio: First, a person reads a passage of Scripture. This reading is meant to be intentional and slow. Most people will read the focus passage several times through.

Meditatio: Next, the person doing Lectio Divina meditates on the Scripture. This means they ponder over the passage, seeking to hear from the Holy Spirit. They do not analyse the passage, but  attempt to view it from various perspectives.
Oratio: This step consists of prayer. After having read and meditated on the passage, the practitioner of Lectio Divina brings it to God in prayer.
Contemplatio: The Lectio Divina process concludes with contemplation. This is a type of listening or restful prayer. The practitioner seeks to simply sit in God’s presence with God’s Word still fresh on the mind.
It is a beautiful practice that lasts 45 minutes and allows the participants to slow down and be with God as they absorb the Word. Again, each session is stand alone and there is the option to offer minimal participation or none which ever is comfortable.
If you’re interested contact us for the Zoom link.

Join us for a service

Great news – the Fishermen’s Chapel returned to a service every week from September 2023, when Heather was appointed to be our minister. The pattern is now as follows:

First Sunday of the month: Communion service, 9.30am

Our beautiful family service that includes Holy Communion is for all those who like to deepen their faith in a symbolic way that is steeped in history. We spend time: in prayer; listening to the Bible; having a short reflection from our minister; singing hymns modern and traditional; and sharing the Lord’s supper of bread and wine ( non-alcoholic). Everyone is welcome to join us at the table, however if you prefer a just a blessing or to remain seated that is fine too. To share in the sacraments is a transforming act which is so special – it can give great comfort and peace in our restless and challenging world.

Second Sunday of the month: Gospel service with the Fishermen’s Chapel Gospel Choir and the Monday singers, 7.30pm. Doors open from 7 for refreshments.

Third Sunday of the month: Anchored (our cafe-style service with opportunities to be creative, ask questions, and put our faith into practice). Time change to 7.30 pm, but please make sure you receive our regular emails for details of any changes to this.

Fourth Sunday of the month: Mindfulness, 7.30 pm.

Fifth Sunday of the month (when there is one): United service with other Leigh-on-Sea Methodist churches.

Coffee mornings – every Wednesday

Our weekly coffee gathering is every Wednesday morning at 10.30am. Come along for coffee, flapjack, and a chat. Over the summer we have been meeting at Belfairs cafe – please see our Facebook page every Wednesday morning or contact us for location info.

If there’s any change to this details will be on our Facebook page. If you can’t see this for any reason please let us know and we can notify you another way. Everyone is welcome – please come along!

Serendipity Sounds sound bath events

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

Monthly sound bath – general info

There will be refreshments (for a donation) after the session.
Doors typically open 6.30 pm and we start at 7.00 pm, but please check the individual event.
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

The Fishermen’s Chapel Gospel Choir

Looking for something different to do this year? Why not join our Fishermen’s Chapel Gospel Choir, singing traditional gospel music at the Chapel? Rehearsals are every Tuesday evening in the downstairs room, 7-8pm. Contact Heather for more details, 07879 232231. There is a new Facebook page for the Gospel Choir here: Fishermen’s Chapel Gospel Choir – Facebook.

The choir sings at our ‘Gospel Vespers’ service every month.

Fake Folk Festival

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.

You can follow on Instagram for more updates: @fakefolkfestival2024
Also on Facebook: @fakefolkfestival2024

You can invite friends via the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/413280188121687

Donate

You can donate to the Leigh Folk Festival via this page (will open in new window / tab)

Downloads

You can download the poster for the Fake Folk Festival here:

Black and white A4 (ideal for printing)

Colour A4

Lineup and schedule details

 

About the Fake Folk Festival

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

A message from Heather, our minister

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 💒❤️