The Church gathers primarily for worship, to celebrate all that God is and all that God has done, to be drawn into the life of the Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We offer God songs and words of praise in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We attend to God’s words in Scripture. We gather around the table of the Lord in the Holy Communion. We offer prayers for our own needs and the needs of the world. When we do this we join our prayers – thin and weak as they often are – with the great hymn of praise of the Church in both earth and heaven, in time and in eternity.

The Eucharist or Holy Communion is celebrated by the whole people of God gathered for worship. The ministry of the members of the congregation is expressed through their active participation together in the words and actions of the service, but also by some of them reading the Scripture passages, leading the prayers of intercession, and, if authorized, assisting with the distribution of communion.

Discover Christian faith in a positive and inclusive group. No special knowledge or religious language needed. Just what you have learned in life so far.
Dates: Thursdays, 01/05 - 03/07.
Time: 7.30pm.
Location: St Andrew's Church, 11 London Road, SS12 0AN.
To join, contact Revd Jonathan Evens on 07803 562329 or [email protected] .

A regular Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church, 7.00 – 9.00 pm, 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN.

See below for our Summer 2025 programme and http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html for more information.

Exhibitions, open mic nights, performances, talks and more!

Unveiled – a wide range of artist and performers from Essex and wider, including Open Mic nights (come and have a go!).
Unveiled – view our hidden painting by acclaimed artist David Folley, plus a range of other exhibitions.

Summer Programme 2025

2 May (7.00 pm) - Exhibition viewing evening. See ‘Adventures in Joy’, an exhibition by Max Blake and hear Max speak about his work.
9 May (7.00 pm) – Hear Ken Porter, author, historian & Chair of Basildon Heritage, give an illustrated talk about blue plaques in Basildon borough
30 May (7.00 pm) – – Poets Tim Harrold & Jonathan Evens share a selection of poetry and prose. Tim is a poet who creates images of profound challenge and change. Jonathan’s poems & stories have been published by Amethyst Review, International Times & Stride.
13 June (7.30 pm) – Open Mic Night organised with John Rogers. Everybody is welcome to come along and play, read, sing or just spectate. See you there for a great evening of live performance!
28 June (7.00 pm) – The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields in concert. The Choral Scholars sing for services, concerts and other events at St Martin’s, exploring a huge range of repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day.
4 July (7.00 pm) – An evening with Neil Tye. Hear British-born and Denmark-based artist Neil Tye speak about his work; paintings that entice the viewer to be immersed in their colours, shapes, and movement, where hidden images, feelings, or meanings can be revealed.
18 July (7.30 pm) – Eva Romanakova and Andrew Palmer in concert. Hear Mezzo-Soprano Eva Romanakova and pianist Andrew Palmer perform a wide selection of music including musical theatre, classical, opera, pop, jazz, folk and songs from the movies.

These events do not require tickets (just turn up on the night). There will be a retiring collection to cover artist and church costs. See http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html for fuller information.

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2 May – 25 July 2025
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

View the exhibition and hear Max speak about his work at ‘Unveiled’, the arts & performance evening at St Andrew’s Wickford, Friday 2 May, 7.00 pm.

St Andrew’s is usually open: Sat 9am-12.30pm; Sun 9.30am-12 noon; Mon 2-3.45pm; Tue 1-4.30pm; Wed 10am-12 noon; Fri 10am-1pm.

https://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html

“Adventures in Joy” presents the most recent work produced by artist and cleric Max Blake. It includes some of the work he has developed though his studies of Icons, as well as his experiments in a more abstract and surreal direction. Max explores his own deep imagination, which is fed by his wide knowledge of religion and reflections amongst other things.

As a man of faith, much of his work expresses an exploration of the Christian faith. Over recent years, Max has studied Byzantine and Coptic Iconography and he has used this study to develop his own interpretations of the icon. Much of Max’s work is highly detailed and the viewer can find many hidden details, people, faces and shapes in his work. This creates a joyful adventure for the eye through bright and vivid worlds. Max uses a range of media including oil paints, inks and coloured pencils.

Max Blake was born in East London in the early 50s and then grew up in Basildon. After graduating as a teacher, Max taught art in secondary schools across south Essex. He also worked with children with anxiety and children with special needs. He was ordained deacon followed by priesting in the early 2000s. Although he is now retired, Max still works as a retired priest with Permission to Officiate in the United Benefice of Horndon, Orsett and Bulphan.

As well as artwork Max has also illustrated book covers and books for children. He continues to exhibit his vibrant work in various locations, including the Well House Gallery in Horndon on the Hill and St Catherine’s Church in East Tilbury.

https://www.wellhousegallery.co.uk/art/max-blake

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Cakes, refreshments, and fellowship.

A live streamed Service at 10.00 am on Sundays from St Andrew's Wickford.

Join us in a Service of Morning Prayer. See https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer for the Order of Service.

A Kintsugi Hope Group is a safe and supportive space for people who feel or have felt overwhelmed, providing tools for self-management in a facilitated peer mentoring style setting. It consists of a structured yet flexible series of 12 weeks of content, which includes group and individual activities designed to help participants to accept themselves, to understand their value and worth, and grow towards a more resilient and hopeful future. Issues covered include; disappointment, loss, anxiety, anger perfectionism, shame and resilience. Feedback so far has been amazing.
Our new group starts on 29th April, 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, London Road, Wickford.
For more information contact Revd Sue Wise on 07941 506156 or [email protected], for more information visit the Kintsugi Hope wesbite - www.kintsugihope.com.

Ken Porter, author, historian & Chair of Basildon Heritage, talks about blue plaques in Basildon borough

Friday 9 May, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

Part of ‘Unveiled’, the Friday night arts and performance evening at St Andrew’s Wickford

In need of rest & renewal?

Find out about & experience Christian Mindfulness by joining us at during the Coffee Morning at St Catherine’s Wickford on the first Saturday in the month (9.30 am to 12 noon) & also at one of our regular 10-minute reflection & Christian mindfulness sessions between 10.00 am & 12 noon at St Andrew’s Wickford on the second Saturday in each month.

Your chance to get to know your local Community Policing Team over a coffee. Ask questions, voice concerns, tell them how they can help you!

A wide range of handmade crafts from a variety of different stalls.
Refreshments also available.
Saturday 17 May 2025
10.00 am – 3.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

Friday 30 May 2025, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN

Poets including Jonathan Evens and Tim Harrold will share a selection of poetry and prose from their own collections and those of their favourite poets. Tim Harrold is a poet who creates images of profound challenge and change, of pause and process, of chrysalis and catalyst. His most recent publication is ‘Verses versus Viruses’. Jonathan Evens is a creative writer whose poems and stories have been published by Amethyst Review, International Times and Stride Magazine.

See http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html for fuller information.

The "Allegro choir" in Essex is to perform a summer concert series with a theme of singing the alphabet, with concerts scheduled at various churches in the area, including St Andrew's Wickford.

Tickets - £10; Children - free. Telephone: 01268 751303.
For further information email [email protected] or visit their Facebook page.

Two days to make your church’s heart sing by exploring and experiencing a range of mission models and approaches advocated by HeartEdge in order to resource existing mission and imagine new missional approaches or initiatives.
All participants will be practitioners, people learning by doing, experts by experience. We hope that participants find lots to take away to encourage, inspire and equip, along with opportunities to share insights, learning, experiences and ideas, building further useful links with colleagues.

Friday 27 June (10.15 am – 4.15 pm) includes:
• Discussion of ‘What do I need and what do I bring?’
• 4 Cs (Commerce, Compassion, Culture, Congregation) stories and connections with practitioners from within the Diocese of Chelmsford
• Music in mission & Great Sacred Music with The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields (Great Sacred Music is a 35-minute sequence of words and music which explores through song and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage)
• Being With workshops – (1) Introduction; (2) Going deeper (Being With is a life changing way to help people explore the Christian faith without needing prior knowledge)
• Living God’s future now presentation – Revd Dr Sam Wells
• ‘Heaven & Earth’ evening concert (7.00 – 8.00 pm) by The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields

Saturday 28 June includes
• Contemplative Walk (9.00 am): Take a walk through Wickford Memorial Park, opening your heart to God’s presence in creation, in the local neighbourhood and in one another. Join in person or on Facebook Live.
• A Quiet Day at St Marys Runwell (10.30 am – 3.30 pm) - A Path with a Heart: Seeking inspiration from the Nazareth Community with Revd Catherine Duce, Assistant Vicar for the Companions of Nazareth, St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Silence and contemplative prayer are at the very heart of the Nazareth rule of life. Delve deeply into silent prayer and carve space to listen to the Spirit at work in our lives. No experience necessary. Come simply ready to rest in the presence of God. Service is the path of contemplative care. In simple acts of giving and receiving and face to face encounter we discover Christ in those we meet. Reflect on your own acts of service and explore themes of reciprocity and what a path of contemplative care might look like in your life.

Booking: Attend for both days or just one or for evening concert only. No charge to attend (donations requested for evening concert & Quiet Day). To book use the following Eventbrite link - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-gods-future-now-an-event-by-heartedge-tickets-1319715016139?aff=oddtdtcreator

Venues:
27 June – St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN. Onsite parking available.
28 June – St Mary’s Church, Runwell Road, Runwell, Essex SS11 7HS. Parking available at Church Hall.
Nearest station: Wickford. Buses include: 8, 10, 94, 94A, 94B, X10.
https://www.wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/index.html

Friday 27 June, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields sing for services, concerts and other events at St Martin’s, exploring a huge range of repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day.

No tickets required – a retiring collection will be taken
Part of ‘Unveiled’, the Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church

Friday 4 July, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

For the last 25 years Neil Tye has been working professionally, as a physical visual theatre performer, instructor, teacher, and installation artist, and has taken his performances, and teaching skills around the world. Hear stories about his music, performance, and painting.

Part of ‘Unveiled’, the Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church

Artist Statement

Neil’s artistic practice is grounded in an intuitive and process-driven approach, wherein the act of painting itself dictates the final composition. Rather than adhering to predetermined concepts, he engages with the canvas through spontaneous mark-making and gestural forms, allowing the work to evolve organically. While his initial engagement with a piece may be sparked by a particular colour or shape, it is the dynamic interplay of movement, texture, and form that ultimately guides its development.

By embracing spontaneity and fluidity, his work exists at the intersection of abstraction and interpretation, inviting viewers to engage with the imagery in a way that is both personal and open-ended. Through this interplay between process and meaning-making, Neil`s paintings function as both intuitive expressions and conceptual explorations of movement, memory, and transformation.

About the artist

Neil Tye (b. 1963, London UK) is a Denmark-based artist with a background in both visual arts and physical theatre. Initially working as a performer and educator in physical theatre, he transitioned into visual expression 15 years ago. He holds an MA in Professional Practice from Middlesex University, London, and has exhibited, performed, and taught extensively across Europe and beyond. His exhibitions include venues such as the arts and culture centre Spinderihallerne (Denmark), the arts centre Banco de Nordeste (Brazil), and The Post Houston TX (USA), among others. Drawing from his multidisciplinary background, Neil’s work explores movement, form, and storytelling through visual mediums. He continues to create from his studio M10 in the Art zone area here in Spinderihallerene.

Mess! Fun! Food!
FREE Kids crafts, activities, games, stories, & songs!
plus FREE tea for each child

2-4pm
St Andrews Church
Wickford

Email [email protected]
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