Southend Faith and Belief Festival

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Consultation has concluded

Southend Museums and Southend's Faith and Belief Network are organising a Festival to celebrate the cultural diversity of the Borough. Co-produced in collaboration with a diverse range of Faith and Belief communities, this festival welcomes those who want to showcase their faith or belief and encourages us all as a community to get to know each other a little bit better.

The last year has been a particularly challenging one for our community. This virtual festival will explore the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic presented to our faith and belief communities and how they have overcome them. This will be a great opportunity to showcase how practices have been adapted and what has been done to help each other and their local communities.

This first virtual Faith and Belief Festival is being produced by our communities, this will be an ongoing project built initially in three parts;

  • Introductions, stories and experiences

Please tell us about yourself, what faith or belief you are a part of and what matters to you. Share your stories and experiences of how you practiced your faith during lockdown. How did you celebrate any events of significance?

As part of your story telling we would also like to explore the objects that helped our faith communities to express their faiths at home during multiple national lockdowns. We welcome you to share photographs of objects of importance and anything significant to your faith or belief.

  • Virtual Exhibition

Visit the online exhibition that will take place online from May 17th . The exhibition will showcase pre-recorded videos presented by local faith and belief leaders about their role , the faith they represent and their community work during the pandemic.

This community led exhibition will be accompanied by images of faith related objects from the Museum collection. In partnership with Southend's Museums and Galleries we explore new ways of building an archive that doesn’t currently reflect the variety of faiths in the borough. We hope that, noting the lack of some poignant objects (particularly domestic objects), we can ignite a positive discussion about how we can change that.

  • Festival Flyer / Southend Faith and Belief Network Logo Competition

We also want to invite the young people of Southend to help us design our new Faith and Belief Network logo and Festival flyers used to promote the event and to represent the diversity of our local faith and belief communities in Southend.

This is site will be developed over the coming weeks. Look out for updates and links

To read about how the Council handles your data please visit our Privacy notice: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Privacy Notice(External link)(External link).

Southend Museums and Southend's Faith and Belief Network are organising a Festival to celebrate the cultural diversity of the Borough. Co-produced in collaboration with a diverse range of Faith and Belief communities, this festival welcomes those who want to showcase their faith or belief and encourages us all as a community to get to know each other a little bit better.

The last year has been a particularly challenging one for our community. This virtual festival will explore the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic presented to our faith and belief communities and how they have overcome them. This will be a great opportunity to showcase how practices have been adapted and what has been done to help each other and their local communities.

This first virtual Faith and Belief Festival is being produced by our communities, this will be an ongoing project built initially in three parts;

  • Introductions, stories and experiences

Please tell us about yourself, what faith or belief you are a part of and what matters to you. Share your stories and experiences of how you practiced your faith during lockdown. How did you celebrate any events of significance?

As part of your story telling we would also like to explore the objects that helped our faith communities to express their faiths at home during multiple national lockdowns. We welcome you to share photographs of objects of importance and anything significant to your faith or belief.

  • Virtual Exhibition

Visit the online exhibition that will take place online from May 17th . The exhibition will showcase pre-recorded videos presented by local faith and belief leaders about their role , the faith they represent and their community work during the pandemic.

This community led exhibition will be accompanied by images of faith related objects from the Museum collection. In partnership with Southend's Museums and Galleries we explore new ways of building an archive that doesn’t currently reflect the variety of faiths in the borough. We hope that, noting the lack of some poignant objects (particularly domestic objects), we can ignite a positive discussion about how we can change that.

  • Festival Flyer / Southend Faith and Belief Network Logo Competition

We also want to invite the young people of Southend to help us design our new Faith and Belief Network logo and Festival flyers used to promote the event and to represent the diversity of our local faith and belief communities in Southend.

This is site will be developed over the coming weeks. Look out for updates and links

To read about how the Council handles your data please visit our Privacy notice: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Privacy Notice(External link)(External link).

How have you practiced your faith or belief during lockdown?

Please tell us how you (and/or your faith/belief community) have adapted practicing your faith/belief during lockdown, what has meant the most and how have you overcome the obstacles faced by this new way of living.

Please share your stories and thoughts and, if you wish, please attach a picture of an object which aided you through this time. The object can be anything that helped you through the pandemic and/or helped you to connect with your faith/belief (examples are a candle, or a laptop with a Zoom service/meeting, etc.) These pictures will be saved in the Southend Museum Archives.

- If you would like to attach a picture you can see a bar above the text box with two lines; you need to click on the picture icon which is the third picture in the second line.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Southend Orthodox Jewish Community on Facebook Share Southend Orthodox Jewish Community on Twitter Share Southend Orthodox Jewish Community on Linkedin Email Southend Orthodox Jewish Community link

    Southend Orthodox Jewish Community

    about 5 years ago

    Passover night also called Seder night

    A selection of pictures of different tables some are larger as they have bigger families.


    Passover night also called Seder night

    A selection of pictures of different tables some are larger as they have bigger families.


  • Share Jackie's thought on Facebook Share Jackie's thought on Twitter Share Jackie's thought on Linkedin Email Jackie's thought link

    Jackie's thought

    by John S, about 5 years ago

    I attend Westcliff Free Church. In April 2020 we were in the early days of our first national lockdown due to COVID 19 and there was a great feeling of uncertainty.

    But parts of two Bible verses, “I the LORD do not change …” (Malachi 3 v 6) and “But God, who is rich in mercy …” (Ephesians 2 v 4) brought comfort and reassurance to me and to others.

    They helped us understand that while we were (and still are) uncertain about what we should do, we can be certain about God. There is change all around us, but... Continue reading

    I attend Westcliff Free Church. In April 2020 we were in the early days of our first national lockdown due to COVID 19 and there was a great feeling of uncertainty.

    But parts of two Bible verses, “I the LORD do not change …” (Malachi 3 v 6) and “But God, who is rich in mercy …” (Ephesians 2 v 4) brought comfort and reassurance to me and to others.

    They helped us understand that while we were (and still are) uncertain about what we should do, we can be certain about God. There is change all around us, but God is always the same - He doesn’t change and is always merciful!

    Jackie B.

    (Both quotes are from the RSV).

  • Share Hoping we can return to normal celebrations soon on Facebook Share Hoping we can return to normal celebrations soon on Twitter Share Hoping we can return to normal celebrations soon on Linkedin Email Hoping we can return to normal celebrations soon link

    Hoping we can return to normal celebrations soon

    about 5 years ago

  • Share We can sing outside at Eastwood Evangelical Church on Facebook Share We can sing outside at Eastwood Evangelical Church on Twitter Share We can sing outside at Eastwood Evangelical Church on Linkedin Email We can sing outside at Eastwood Evangelical Church link

    We can sing outside at Eastwood Evangelical Church

    by SimonWerrett, about 5 years ago

    Zoom has been great for us since March 2020 when we had to close our building and move online. We initially were meeting every day at 10.30 for different activities, which when you could not go out was a great opportunity to talk to people. From July 2020 as restrictions eased we met 3 or 4 times a week.

    We had planed an outside carol service, but this was cancelled due to the new lockdown. The great thing about Zoom is people can join it via a phone (although they cannot see anyone) and this has provided an opportunity for... Continue reading

    Zoom has been great for us since March 2020 when we had to close our building and move online. We initially were meeting every day at 10.30 for different activities, which when you could not go out was a great opportunity to talk to people. From July 2020 as restrictions eased we met 3 or 4 times a week.

    We had planed an outside carol service, but this was cancelled due to the new lockdown. The great thing about Zoom is people can join it via a phone (although they cannot see anyone) and this has provided an opportunity for people still to engage.

    With the arrival of the great British summer we have started to hold our services in the car park, because we can then sing along. This is streamed via social media so others can join in, including friends in Kenya. We have been quite fortunate with the weather although slightly cold it has not rained yet!

    It also provides an opportunity for our 'non-Zoomers' to join us for a service.


    Simon Werrett (Minister)

  • Share Prayer and virtual coffee mornings reduce isolation and help me cope during the Pandemic! on Facebook Share Prayer and virtual coffee mornings reduce isolation and help me cope during the Pandemic! on Twitter Share Prayer and virtual coffee mornings reduce isolation and help me cope during the Pandemic! on Linkedin Email Prayer and virtual coffee mornings reduce isolation and help me cope during the Pandemic! link

    Prayer and virtual coffee mornings reduce isolation and help me cope during the Pandemic!

    by Revd Paul Mackay, about 5 years ago

    The following is a quote from a member of our congregation at St Marys Prittlewell.

    "I have been very grateful for the support from the clergy and other members of our church community through zoom meetings, made available during the pandemic, for daily prayer meetings, 2 weekly coffee mornings and the link to church services. All of these have reduced the feeling of isolation.

    The combined commitment and belief in the power of prayer at the prayer meetings has given me strength and comfort during the death and illness of some of my friends and family. It has helped me... Continue reading

    The following is a quote from a member of our congregation at St Marys Prittlewell.

    "I have been very grateful for the support from the clergy and other members of our church community through zoom meetings, made available during the pandemic, for daily prayer meetings, 2 weekly coffee mornings and the link to church services. All of these have reduced the feeling of isolation.

    The combined commitment and belief in the power of prayer at the prayer meetings has given me strength and comfort during the death and illness of some of my friends and family. It has helped me enormously and enabled me to cope and keep going."

    Alyson

  • Share 15 months like no other on Facebook Share 15 months like no other on Twitter Share 15 months like no other on Linkedin Email 15 months like no other link

    15 months like no other

    by Revd Paul Mackay, about 5 years ago

    Like many faith communities we had never heard of 'Zoom' before March 2020 - since then there has rarely been a day that we haven't as a church family not met for one reason or another using Zoom or Microsoft Teams. As part of the clergy team here, I guess the hardest time was when we were on 'our own' in church and shared services via Zoom or recorded them and then shared them via YouTube and Vimeo.


    Of course we were never truly on our own - God was and is always with us and guiding us. It was... Continue reading

    Like many faith communities we had never heard of 'Zoom' before March 2020 - since then there has rarely been a day that we haven't as a church family not met for one reason or another using Zoom or Microsoft Teams. As part of the clergy team here, I guess the hardest time was when we were on 'our own' in church and shared services via Zoom or recorded them and then shared them via YouTube and Vimeo.


    Of course we were never truly on our own - God was and is always with us and guiding us. It was at times emotional but also encouraging that many of our congregation whilst not being able to be with us in person reached across the internet and shared in our worship.

    Revd Paul Mackay, Vicar St Mary’s Church Prittlewell

  • Share Southend Faith and Belief Network on Facebook Share Southend Faith and Belief Network on Twitter Share Southend Faith and Belief Network on Linkedin Email Southend Faith and Belief Network link

    Southend Faith and Belief Network

    about 5 years ago

    As part of the Engagement and Participation Team here at the Council, when the pandemic started to reach more locally we knew that we had to engage with as many people as we could in a short space of time. Our Faith and Belief communities have been an invaluable source of support to the residents of Southend throughout the pandemic from sharing messages to congregations, assisting with covid testing and vaccinations, supporting vulnerable families in need and generally ensuring that people have felt less isolated and valued.

    Southend’s Faith and Belief Network Leaders have been meeting fortnightly to discuss issues... Continue reading

    As part of the Engagement and Participation Team here at the Council, when the pandemic started to reach more locally we knew that we had to engage with as many people as we could in a short space of time. Our Faith and Belief communities have been an invaluable source of support to the residents of Southend throughout the pandemic from sharing messages to congregations, assisting with covid testing and vaccinations, supporting vulnerable families in need and generally ensuring that people have felt less isolated and valued.

    Southend’s Faith and Belief Network Leaders have been meeting fortnightly to discuss issues such as safety compliance, the health and wellbeing of community members and have generally been getting involved in projects happening across the Council as well as working solidly to support their own congregations.

    I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this group and watching the relationships between our Faith, Belief and community groups flourish over this past year – despite all the adversity that covid has challenged Southend with. I have been overwhelmed at the sense of togetherness, passion and drive for a united Southend throughout these troubled times.

    I look forward to working with our Faith and Belief groups even more closely over the coming months and years and would encourage anyone who is unfamiliar with who your faith and Belief neighbours are to find out about what is happening in your local community. Introduce yourself!

  • Share Avenue Baptist Church moves online ! on Facebook Share Avenue Baptist Church moves online ! on Twitter Share Avenue Baptist Church moves online ! on Linkedin Email Avenue Baptist Church moves online ! link

    Avenue Baptist Church moves online !

    by J Kilpin, about 5 years ago
    As a result of our building closing throughout much of 2020 we found that streaming our Sunday services online became a major vehicle for maintaining connections within our congregation. These services were initially pre-recorded, and scheduled to stream each Sunday morning.. then gradually we became more confidant to stream them live from an empty sanctuary each week into people's homes. We now currently can open our doors to the public on a Sunday morning for our Worship service, but simultaneously broadcast/stream our services live for those who are housebound or prefer to watch from home.


    Along with this, we also... Continue reading

    As a result of our building closing throughout much of 2020 we found that streaming our Sunday services online became a major vehicle for maintaining connections within our congregation. These services were initially pre-recorded, and scheduled to stream each Sunday morning.. then gradually we became more confidant to stream them live from an empty sanctuary each week into people's homes. We now currently can open our doors to the public on a Sunday morning for our Worship service, but simultaneously broadcast/stream our services live for those who are housebound or prefer to watch from home.


    Along with this, we also arranged for s series of gift boxes to be delivered throughout the pandemic, to cheer and brighten peoples' day, which included treats, (cakes/sweets etc), together with comforting and reassuring scripture and a message of hope that encouraged people to know they had not been forgotten, particular those living on their own.


    It has been a personally challenging time, with family loss and bereavement, ill health, and challenging circumstances but we are starting to see signs of hope as the vaccinations continue to roll out, and people becoming more and more confidant to meet up.


    Rev J Kilpin

  • Share The return of Memory Worship to Wesley & Thorpe Bay Methodist Churches on Facebook Share The return of Memory Worship to Wesley & Thorpe Bay Methodist Churches on Twitter Share The return of Memory Worship to Wesley & Thorpe Bay Methodist Churches on Linkedin Email The return of Memory Worship to Wesley & Thorpe Bay Methodist Churches link

    The return of Memory Worship to Wesley & Thorpe Bay Methodist Churches

    by PeekJules, about 5 years ago


    Back in 2016 Rev Julia Monaghan our minister at Wesley Methodist Church in Leigh on Sea and I set up a monthly church service for people living with dementia; we called it Memory Worship. Pre COVID 19 the afternoon would take a regular pattern of welcome; singing well known hymns, reading familiar passages of scripture, and saying the Lord's Prayer together the formal part of the service would last 30 minutes before leading into a craft activity and hospitality, providing an opportunity for conversation to reinforce the theme of the service. Our dedicated team of volunteers were always on hand... Continue reading


    Back in 2016 Rev Julia Monaghan our minister at Wesley Methodist Church in Leigh on Sea and I set up a monthly church service for people living with dementia; we called it Memory Worship. Pre COVID 19 the afternoon would take a regular pattern of welcome; singing well known hymns, reading familiar passages of scripture, and saying the Lord's Prayer together the formal part of the service would last 30 minutes before leading into a craft activity and hospitality, providing an opportunity for conversation to reinforce the theme of the service. Our dedicated team of volunteers were always on hand with tea, lovely homemade cake and Methodist fellowship. This grew very quickly and was then replicated by our friends at Thorpe Bay Methodist Church. So, every month there were two church services on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.


    This all stopped in March 2020 when COVID 19 gripped the world. This devastating blow compelled me to put together a ‘Memory Worship at Home’ service to be viewed on YouTube, initially, for the people that had been attending monthly service at Wesley and Thorpe Bay. A year on and Memory Worship at home YouTube service is watched at home and in care homes every month locally and all over the country. These monthly services have been viewed nearly 3,000 times.

    This is Margaret watching Memory Worship at home in Yorkshire supported by her amazing carer daughter Heather.



    The exit out of this currently Corona Virus lockdown for the people that used to attend Memory Worship at both Wesley and Thorpe Bay needs to be very slow and steady but is very much needed. We have all struggled mentally and physically with isolation.

    This is also timely because both Thorpe Bay Methodist Church and Wesley Methodist Church are eagerly planning their first live Memory Worship services and would love to invite you to come along. If you have never attended before and would like to lend your support we would love to see you.


    1st Monday of the Month starting Mon May 4th Thorpe Bay Methodist Church 2pm

    3rd Monday of the Month starting Mon 21st June Wesley Methodist Church Church 2pm


    Every Blessing

    Julie Peek

    Mission Enabler for Older People

    Highlands Methodist Church

  • Share Westcliff Free Church and COVID-19 on Facebook Share Westcliff Free Church and COVID-19 on Twitter Share Westcliff Free Church and COVID-19 on Linkedin Email Westcliff Free Church and COVID-19 link

    Westcliff Free Church and COVID-19

    by John S, about 5 years ago

    Westcliff Free Church is a small independent church situated on the London Road near Westcliff Library.

    Along with all other churches, we closed in March 2020 and, to begin with, distributed our services (as WORD documents) by e-mail, post and by hand through letter boxes to all our members encouraging them to worship at home. We also put the services on our website (www.westcliff-free-church.org) in the hope that some from outside the church would be able to join us in that way - we think that a few have done so.

    We continued to produce and circulate our weekly Prayer... Continue reading

    Westcliff Free Church is a small independent church situated on the London Road near Westcliff Library.

    Along with all other churches, we closed in March 2020 and, to begin with, distributed our services (as WORD documents) by e-mail, post and by hand through letter boxes to all our members encouraging them to worship at home. We also put the services on our website (www.westcliff-free-church.org) in the hope that some from outside the church would be able to join us in that way - we think that a few have done so.

    We continued to produce and circulate our weekly Prayer and Notice Sheet.

    The first lockdown covered Easter and it was very strange not being able to meet with hundreds of other local Christians for our usual United Service in Chalkwell Park on Good Friday morning.

    As soon as the lockdown was eased, we re-opened (on 9th August)! With the chairs spaced 2 metres apart (see picture), we could only accommodate 23 people, so we had to have a booking system. Of course, we also had to wear masks and we couldn't sing! Neither could we share communion in the usual way, but we bought some pre-filled communion cups with a wafer in the top and wine below (see picture) which enabled us to do it together but safely. Even with all the precautions in place, some members still felt they couldn't attend, and our highest attendance was 18.

    We then had to close for the month of November but were able to open again in December and were grateful to be able to celebrate Christmas in church, although it was very difficult not to join in with the recorded carols!

    Our Leadership Team have met twice a month on ZOOM, and we recommenced our twice monthly Bible Studies (also on ZOOM) in late November. When we decided that we should accede to the request from the Local Directors of Public Health to shut again (in early January), we were able to use that experience to begin holding our Sunday services on ZOOM as well, usually with the speaker joining us from their house. We are encouraged that attendance at those has regularly been around 20 and a few new people have joined us! We follow the service with a "Coffee ZOOM" to encourage folk to stay and chat informally.

    So, that has been our experience for the last year or so - a small church struggling, but surviving with God’s help. So much so, that if all goes well with progress along the Government's Roadmap, we have decided to re-open on Sunday mornings on 2nd May. We do not intend to "live stream" our services, so it will be interesting to see how many of our people decide to attend - we are praying that many will!