This summer, Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) is home to a vibrant gathering of penguins as part of Waddle-on-Sea—a joyful public art trail created by Havens Hospices in partnership with Wild in Art.
Running until Wednesday 3rd September, Waddle-on-Sea features over 30 large penguin sculptures and more than 70 baby penguins spread across Southend-on-Sea and Leigh-on-Sea. We’re thrilled to be hosting nine beautifully decorated baby penguins in our Welcome Area on Marguerite Drive, with one impressive giant penguin standing proudly just outside the church garden on Leigh Road—a colourful ambassador for creativity, compassion and community spirit.
The trail celebrates local art and raises vital funds for Havens Hospices, which provides free, specialist care for children and adults living with incurable conditions across Essex, supporting them and their loved ones through some of life’s most difficult times.
“We’re so pleased to be part of Waddle-on-Sea,” said David Elcock, LRBC’s Community Worker. “After hosting many elephants during Herd in the City two years ago, it’s a joy to welcome these brilliant penguins to the church. These trails are more than just fun—they raise awareness and funds for an incredible charity doing essential work in our community. It’s a real privilege to be involved again.”
Each penguin has been uniquely designed by local artists, schools or community groups, offering a free and inspiring way to explore the city while supporting a cause that touches so many.
While trail maps are not available at LRBC, you can pick them up from Havens Hospices shops, the Pier Information Centre, The Forum, Leigh Library, and the Waddle-on-Sea HQs at The Royals Shopping Centre and Haven’sReloved141 Leigh Road. Or, for digital explorers, download the Waddle-on-Sea app from the App Store or Google Play to guide your trail.
At the end of the trail, all penguins will gather one final time for a special Farewell Weekend on 13–14 September, before many are auctioned to raise even more money for Havens Hospices’ vital services.
If you’re waddling through Leigh this summer, pop in to see the penguins at LRBC—we’re delighted to be part of this creative and compassionate celebration.
After our Sunday morning gathering on Sunday 2 March, the Leigh Road Baptist Church family came together for a simple but powerful act of generosity—our Starvation Lunch in support of Tek Ura. The idea was simple: instead of a full Sunday lunch, we shared a meal of light soup and a roll, donating what we would have normally spent on food to support Tek Ura’s vital work in Albania.
The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with tables decorated with Albanian flags, reminding us of the community we were supporting. Steve G’s delicious soup was a real hit—many came back for seconds! Alongside the meal, we heard an update on the latest news from Tek Ura, reinforcing the impact our giving can have.
We’re delighted to share that the event raised £300, with further donations still coming in.
Tanya Pain, who organised the event, shared her gratitude: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support Tek Ura in this way. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed—we’re thrilled with the amount raised and the generosity shown. Every penny will help make a real difference.”
Thank you to all who took part, donated, and helped make this event a success. If you missed out but would still like to contribute, it’s not too late! Get in touch to find out how you can support Tek Ura’s work.
Two Artists: Ruth R and Teresa B enjoying the exhibition
What a fantastic weekend we had at Two Artists! Hosted at the Living Room, this special exhibition featured the incredible artwork of Ruth Rotherham and Teresa Barbary. The event was a wonderful celebration of creativity, community, and connection, with many visitors enjoying the vibrant display and taking home their favourite pieces.
The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with a steady flow of art lovers stopping by to admire the collection. “We are absolutely thrilled with the response,” said Teresa Barbary. “It was so special to see people connecting with our work and choosing pieces to take home.” Ruth Rotherham added, “The support was amazing, and knowing that part of each sale is helping Phablife makes it even more rewarding.”
Teresa with one of her pieces
A huge thank you to Leigh Road Baptist Church for providing the Living Room as a space to showcase local talent. The Room for Art drop-in, which Teresa attends weekly, continues to be a fantastic creative space for anyone looking to explore art in a supportive environment.
We are also immensely grateful for the support of The Phabulous Café and Phab Life, whose work in creating opportunities for adults with additional needs is truly inspiring. The Phabulous Café is not just a welcoming place to enjoy coffee and lunch—it is also a training hub that helps young adults gain valuable skills in hospitality and customer service. Phab Life also provides supported volunteering, employment training, and social opportunities, making a real difference in the community – phablife.org.uk
The Living Room itself continues to be a hub for community engagement, hosting activities such as Room for Art, Renew Wellbeing sessions, eco markets, craft mornings, and even vinyl nights! If you haven’t yet visited, we encourage you to come and see what’s happening in this wonderful space. www.living-room.org.uk
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited, supported, and shared kind words during the Two Artists exhibition. Your encouragement and enthusiasm mean so much, and we look forward to more events celebrating creativity and community in the future!
The Harmonise Choir graced us with a stunning performance and raised funds for HARP Southend homelessness charity.
Our worship team led us with passion, creating spaces where we could encounter God through music.
Outreach & Fundraising:
We partnered with organisations to support those in need, from weekly Southend Foodbank collections, donating to Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre and Spurgeons Children and Family charity and hosting fundraising events for LRBC mission partners Tek Ura.
Leigh Folk Festival Fundraiser: A fantastic Comedy Night brought laughter and funds to an important cause.
Our work with seniors, including midweek gatherings and social groups, continued to provide companionship and combat loneliness.
Children & Family:
Our children & families programs continued to thrive, with creative activities and spaces where young people can grow in faith.
Assemblies and RE Lessons with Darlinghurst Academy Primary School and hosting their choir.
Parent-and-toddler groups offered a warm welcome to families in our community.
Looking Ahead:
As we step into 2025, we look forward to deepening our relationships with God and one another, serving our community with open hearts, and sharing the love of Christ in all we do.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Here’s to another year of faith, hope, and love!
Leigh Road Baptist Church’s Christmas Eco Fayre 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together the community to celebrate the festive season in an environmentally conscious way. The event, filled with creativity and generosity, raised an impressive £2,600. Of this total, 90% will support LRBC’s ongoing work in the local community, with the remaining 10% donated to the Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre—a vital ministry aiding those in financial hardship.
The Fayre featured a vibrant array of eco-friendly crafts, gifts, and sustainable products, encouraging attendees to embrace a greener Christmas. Julie Eady, one of the organizers, highlighted the innovative ways participants engaged with the theme, from upcycled decorations to eco-conscious workshops that inspired practical, planet-friendly habits for the Christmas season.
Christmas Eco Fayre photos by Gina Cox
The day also fostered a spirit of fellowship, with delicious refreshments, uplifting conversations, and activities for all ages. Children especially enjoyed hands-on experiences, while families explored stalls brimming with unique treasures.
A Heartfelt Thanks “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who helped make this event such a success,” said Julie Eady, church member and organiser. “To the stallholders, small businesses, volunteers, and visitors—your creativity, generosity, and support truly embody the spirit of Christmas. Together, we’ve celebrated God’s blessings and shown love to our community and creation.”
We give all glory to God for His provision and for uniting us as stewards of His creation. Events like this not only bring joy but also reflect the church’s mission to care for both people and the planet. Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and served—you are truly making a difference.
Light, Love and Hope, LRBCs Streets of Light Window shining into the night
This autumn, Leigh-on-Sea joined hundreds of locations across the UK and Germany in celebrating the power of light and love to bring hope and warmth to our communities. The Streets of Light initiative, held from October 26 to November 3, 2024, saw 15 homes, businesses, and churches across Leigh-on-Sea shining brightly with inspiring window displays bearing the message of Light, Love, and Hope. These displays provided an uplifting alternative to Halloween’s darker themes, inviting local residents to walk the streets and discover the message of positivity shining in the windows of their neighbours.
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Beyond our town, the event spread far and wide, with hundreds of windows lit up across the UK, from Sheffield to Scarborough and from Cambridge to Cornwall. Even Germany joined the initiative, making Streets of Light an international beacon of joy, reminding us that no matter where we are, we can all reflect light in the darkness.
Wouter and Hanli stand in front of their Streets of Light window for LRBC
Hanli Bouwer, Children and Families Worker at Leigh Road Baptist Church, expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone involved: “A huge thank you to all those who took part in Streets of Light 2024. Your creativity and willingness to spread a message of light, love, and hope has made a difference to so many, and I’m thrilled to see how our community has come together to shine brightly.”
Leigh Road Baptist Church invites everyone to continue the journey of sharing light, love and hope, whether through art, words, or actions. Together, we make our communities brighter, one light at a time in Jesus’s name.
For more information of Streets of Light and to get involved next year, please visit www.streetsoflight.co.uk
Hanli giving the Harvest talk inspired by tomatoes
Harvest time is a wonderful season to reflect on the blessings in our lives, and at Leigh Road Baptist Church, we gathered to do just that—celebrating the goodness of God together. This year’s Harvest service was filled with gratitude, community spirit, and joyful moments. Let’s take a look at the highlights and lessons from our all-age service.
Jenny and Dawn with their Harvest flower arrangements
The sanctuary looking and smelling wonderful thanks to the immensely creative flower arranging team, thank you Jenny, Dawn on arranging and Martin on growing produce.
Part 1: A Time to Say Thank You
We kicked off our service with a fun question: “What is your favourite fruit?” The answers sparked conversation and smiles across the congregation, leading us to the heart of Harvest—celebrating God’s abundance and pausing to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy.
At Harvest, we’re reminded that God is good, and His provision is always with us. To reflect on this, we turned to Psalm 136, which declares: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
People bring their donations of food to forward to the front of church for Harvest
This year, we saw a beautiful outpouring of generosity. Thank you to everyone for their harvest gifts! It was the largest amount of food we have ever collected, and all of it was donated to the Southend Food Bank. Additionally, we raised an incredible £676 for the Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre—an amazing reflection of our community’s heart for helping others.
Part 2: Quiz Time – The Mystery of the Tomato
As part of the service, we hosted a quiz featuring different fruits and vegetables. The tomato sparked the most discussion! Is it a fruit or a vegetable? Did you know it’s technically a berry? We also learned that tomatoes are the most consumed fruit worldwide—versatile, full of flavour, and found everywhere!
The tomato became a metaphor for God’s blessings in our lives. Just as tomatoes come in different shapes, sizes, and flavours, so do God’s blessings. Some are sweet, some unexpected, but all are good. Here are a few fun facts we shared:
The record for most tomatoes grown on a single plant in the UK is 5,891!
A single tomato can contain between 150-300 seeds, showing us how many blessings we might miss if we don’t take a closer look.
The Harvest Lesson from the Tomato
So why tomatoes this Harvest? Because they offer unique insights into God’s goodness:
God’s Blessings Come in Many Shapes and Sizes Just like tomatoes come in all forms, God’s blessings in our lives are diverse. Whether big or small, they are all a reflection of His care.
We Don’t Always Recognise a Blessing Right Away Just as we might not think of a tomato as a berry, we don’t always recognize God’s blessings at first. But in time, we realize He gives us exactly what we need.
Countless Blessings Like counting tomato seeds, trying to count God’s blessings is nearly impossible—they are abundant and often go unnoticed.
God’s Goodness is Everywhere Tomatoes are found worldwide, reminding us that God’s goodness surrounds us, wherever we are.
Unique Blessings for Each of Us Just as tomatoes vary in taste and texture, God’s blessings are tailored for each of us. He provides what we need in the “essence of deliciousness”—a perfect balance.
Celebrating with Our Church Family
The Harvest bake-off winners
Harvest this year wasn’t just about reflecting on blessings—it was about sharing them too! A big thank you to everyone who baked for Sunday refreshments, and to those talented bakers who entered our Bake-off competition. Here are the winners: 🥇 1st place: Dawn R – A chocolatey bake that rose above the rest! 🥈 2nd place: Dawn T – A slice of strawberry heaven! 🥉 3rd place: Nicola P – A carrot bake that made Peter Rabbit proud!
Name that tune: Nick W and Jon P on keys for quiz and fish
Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped organize our Quiz Night with Fish & Chips on Saturday evening and to those who came along to support it. It was a night filled with fun, fellowship, and a great reminder of the strength of our community.
A Call to Thankfulness
Psalm 136 reminds us to “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.” This Harvest, whether you’re enjoying a tomato in a salad or marvelling at its many characteristics, let it be a reminder of the countless blessings God gives us each day.
As we wrap up our Harvest celebrations, may you see God’s goodness as clearly and brightly as the biggest tomato ever grown. Happy Harvest from all of us at Leigh Road Baptist Church! Let’s continue to celebrate the blessings God pours into our lives—today and always.
(L-R) Maureen Small, Marion Prigg, Margaret Fisk, Cecilia Bell raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support
Recently, the Barnabas Midweek devotional group of Leigh Road Baptist Church hosted a Coffee Morning and cake sale to support Macmillan Cancer Support, successfully raising £150. The event saw a wonderful turnout, with attendees enjoying a quiz, an array of delicious cakes, and the opportunity to connect with others in the community.
The Barnabas group meets every Tuesday afternoon, providing a space for fellowship, encouragement, and friendship. It is open to everyone and offers a welcoming midweek devotional with sung worship, where people can share experiences, support each other, and enjoy a range of activities and talks from local and international Christian charities and churches. Whether you’re looking to make new friends or simply enjoy a cup of tea and a chat, the Barnabas group is a great place to be.
Cecilia Bell, a member of the Barnabas group, expressed her delight at the event’s success: “We’re so pleased with how the morning went. It’s fantastic to see so many people come together for such an important cause. The support we’ve received has been amazing, and we’re delighted to contribute to MacMillan’s vital work.”
MacMillan Coffee Mornings are a nationwide initiative, raising funds for cancer support through local community events like this one.
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Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) is joyfully celebrating a significant milestone—the 50th anniversary of its Pre-school, a ministry that has impacted generations of local children and families. As we reflect on this half-century of service, we recognise God’s provision and blessing throughout the journey.
The celebration as part of the LRBC weekly Sunday service was marked with a gathering filled with cake, candles, balloons, prayer and heartfelt memories. Mala, one of the cherished members of the community, played a special part in making the day even more memorable by blowing out the candles on the anniversary cake.
Founded on Monday, April 30, 1973, LRBC Pre-school started humbly with just 16 children per session, three sessions a week, and four staff members. The fees were 30p per session, and one memorable early discussion involved the approval of the pre-school’s toilet facilities! Even the Baptistry immersion heater was used to warm water for washing hands—a detail that surely deserves a photo, though none was taken.
Minutes from the first LRBC-playgroup-pre-school committee meeting back in 1973
But the question remains—why did LRBC begin this playgroup-turned-pre-school? It was Mrs. Rosemary Wood who first suggested the idea, which was brought before the church in January 1973. The church vision was clear: the pre-school would benefit the local community, provide a Christian-based, but open to all, environment for children, and serve as an outreach to local families.
Some of the LRBC Pre-school staff past and present who attended the anniversary celebration
From these small beginnings, the pre-school grew steadily. By its 20th anniversary, it had 45 children on the register, holding five sessions a week. Today, the numbers are even more impressive: 63 children, 10 staff members, and eight weekly sessions, with about 30 children per session. Over the past 50 years, the pre-school has welcomed an estimated 2,000 children through its doors.
Despite the many changes in facilities, staff, and students over the years, some things have remained constant. LRBC Pre-school has always had dedicated staff who have worked hard to serve local families. The families, in turn, have shared their stories and lives with the pre-school, while God’s hand of blessing has been evident throughout its history.
This legacy continues today. Our pre-school staff remain committed to providing a loving, supportive environment for children and their families. The volunteer steering group offers guidance and support, and we continue to welcome new families with open arms. Seeing parents’ worries turn into smiles as their children settle in reminds us of the important work we do.
Andrew Palmer, Chair of the LRBC Pre-school Steering Group, shared these reflective words:
“As we celebrate 50 years of Leigh Road Baptist Church Pre-school, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness in providing for this ministry over the decades. From its humble beginnings to the thriving pre-school we see today, it has always been a place where children are nurtured, families are supported, and God’s love is shared. I want to personally thank our dedicated staff—past and present—who have given so much to this work. Your care, commitment, and passion are what make this pre-school the blessing it is to the community. You continue to embody the heart of this ministry, and we are deeply grateful for all you do. As we reflect on the past and look to the future, we trust in God’s plan for the pre-school and pray that He will continue to guide and bless us for many years to come.”
As we celebrate this golden anniversary, we acknowledge everyone who has been part of this journey: the founders, staff (past and present), children, parents, volunteer steering group members, church members, ministers, and all those who have faithfully prayed for the pre-school. We thank you for your contribution, and recognise you all for the part you’ve played.
We praise God for the privilege of hosting an on-site pre-school, and we seek His continued guidance and blessing as we move forward. This anniversary is a testament to the faith, courage, and commitment of those who have worked to build and sustain this ministry over the years.
As we look to the future, we are excited for what God has in store for LRBC Pre-school. We pray that He will allow us to continue this important work for many more years to come.
More past LRBC Pre-school staff and volunteers enjoy looking through the old photos.
After the service, all were invited to visit the display of photos and scrapbooks, speak with former staff, parents, and children, and enjoy the selection of cakes brought in to mark this special day.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this celebration. We give all the glory to God for His faithfulness over the past 50 years and trust Him for the years ahead.
The much-anticipated return of the Old Leigh Regatta saw over 10,000 people gather for a weekend of fun, excitement, and community spirit. After a five-year hiatus, this beloved event made its comeback, featuring a variety of activities that brought joy to people of all ages.
The regatta, held along the picturesque old town waterfront, was a spectacular affair. Visitors enjoyed water sports, live music, and traditional games, alongside numerous charity fundraising stalls. Highlights included paddleboarding races, sailing displays, and even a funfair, making it a day to remember for everyone involved.
Old Leigh Regatta 2024 Photo credit: Sally Willcock
Among the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the event a success were members of Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC). Church volunteers assisted as programme sellers, stage crew, and in logistics, helping ensure the weekend ran smoothly.
David Elcock, Community Worker at LRBC, expressed the church’s gratitude in being part of this local tradition. “It was so good to help as a church in some small way with the return of the Old Leigh Regatta after a five-year break. The weekend was a spectacular affair, with water sports, fundraising fun, live music, and a wonderful community atmosphere for all ages. Roll on 2025! Our thanks to the volunteers and sea scouts that brought it back and worked so tirelessly over the year to ensure the Regatta was a success.”
Marcus Dean, Chairman of the Regatta, shared his thoughts on the event’s successful return: “To see so many people enjoying themselves is what makes this regatta so special. This is an event the community truly owns and loves. After five years, the excitement and energy were even greater, and we are so grateful to all who helped make it happen.”
With the community’s continued support, the Old Leigh Regatta is set to remain a key event in the town’s calendar, bringing together residents and visitors in celebration of local culture and charity. Here’s to many more regattas to come!
