Autumn programme: Unveiled, exhibition, Quiet Day, Craft Fayre, Local History Day, Difference Course

We have a packed programme of varied and interesting events in the Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry this autumn including a new art exhibition, heritage displays from Basildon Heritage, concerts, our Unveiled arts and performance events, a Quiet Day, plus two new events - a local history day at St Catherine's and a Craft Fayre at St Andrew's.

Here are fuller details:

Exhibition: 'Trials and Tribulations: Modern Interpretations of Iconography', 13 September to 20 December 2024, St Andrew’s Church - 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN

The arts programme at St Andrew's Wickford continues in the autumn with an exhibition by Leigh-on-Sea-based artist John Paul Barrett called 'Trials and Tribulations'. The exhibition will run from 13 September to 20 December 2024 at St Andrew's Wickford.

John Paul Barrett specialises in mixed media paintings, using acrylics and oil pastels on paintings that range from symbolism to landscapes and portraits. This exhibition focuses on his modern interpretations of Eastern European religious iconography. More information about him and his work can be found at https://www.jpbarrettart.com/.

Unveiled: 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 Autumn 2024 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.

Autumn Programme 2024

• 13 September (7.00 pm) – Trials & Tribulations – Exhibition viewing evening. Meet John-Paul Barrett, see his exhibition & hear him interviewed. This Leigh-on-Sea based artist creates modern interpretations of classic iconographic images & scenes.
• 27 September (7.30 pm) – Dave Crawford in concert. Popular local musician, Dave Crawford writes engaging/melodic songs in Americana/ Alt-Rock/Indie-Folk. He has performed at the Leigh Folk Festival, Pin Drop Sessions, & Music for Mind together with Kev Butler. This will be Dave’s second concert at Unveiled. We have also enjoyed his powerful vocals & guitar at our Open Mic Nights.
• 11 October (7.00 pm) – Re-enacting the Napoleonic Wars. Robson Coke (2nd 95th Rifles & Drum Major of the Band of 1st Foot Guards 1815, Napoleonic Association) will talk about the Napoleonic Wars, explain how re-enactments are organised & show costumes and equipment used in re-enactments.
• 25 October (7.30 pm) – Eva Romanakova in concert. Eva Romanakova sings a wide genre of music; Musical Theatre, Arias, Pop, Jazz, Movie Songs & also Folk. She will sing music from various countries and different times. She is performing with accomplished pianist Andrew Palmer.
• 8 November (7.30 pm) – Open Mic Night. Everybody is welcome to come along & play, read, sing or just spectate. See you there for a great evening of live performance!
• 22 November (7.00 pm) – An evening with Steven Turner. Hear about the career of local dancer Steven Turner, who has trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary, street, mime & moving with props. Steven founded his own organisation, Next Step Creative, to promote collaboration between dance & other creative arts. He also regularly choreographs & teaches for Dance 21 (a dance company for children & young adults with Down’s syndrome). He has performed across the UK and Europe including Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, & France.
• 6 December (7.00 pm) – Broomfield artists in the Basildon Deanery. Find out about artworks in Basildon & Nevendon by Thomas Bayliss Huxley-Jones & Rosemary Rutherford. An illustrated talk by Jonathan Evens.

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.

Other events

Basildon Heritage displays - we will be showing two heritage displays prepared by Basildon Heritage this autumn. Following on from our recent Unveiled talk about Depeche Mode, the first display, 'Sounds of Basildon', will be on the Basildon music scene in the 1980's, i.e. Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure, and will be at St Andrew's from 9 September to 7 October. The second display, linked to our Local History Day, is on 'Wickford's churches' and will be at St Catherine's from 2 October to 30 October.

Underfret in concert - Saturday 21 September 2024, 2.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN. Underfret are a six-piece ukulele band, playing music from the 1960's onward - https://www.instagram.com/underfret/. A fundraiser for St Catherine’s Wickford (where subsidence has caused cracks in the walls requiring underpinning) - a retiring collection will be taken.

Difference Course - We will be running this course, which “explores what it means to follow Jesus in a complex and divided world, seeing transformation through everyday encounters”, on the following dates: Wednesdays, 2-3.30pm at Roger’s on 25th September, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd October; and Thursdays, 7.30-9pm in St Andrew’s church on 26th September, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th October. Each week includes films of stories from Christians facing conflict, Bible study, interactive exercises, prayer and discussion. While it is preferable to attend each week it is not mandatory. A Participant’s Guide is available at a cost of £3.50 for those that would like to purchase one. SIGN - UP sheets available soon. RLN Difference is a part of the Reconciling Leaders Network. Archbishop of Canterbury’s Reconciliation Ministry.

Quiet Day: The 7 S’s of the Nazareth Community, Saturday 28 September, 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, St Catherine’s Wickford. Consider Silence, Sacrament, Scriptures, Service, Sharing, Sabbath, and Staying as a personal Rule of Life. Learn about the Nazareth Community based at St Martin-in-the-Fields and its growth through the Companions of Nazareth. Reflect in the quiet space of St Catherine's, a small country church originally serving a village community which still seems, in church and churchyard, to retain an atmosphere of the rural heritage of Wickford's past. Led by Revd Jonathan Evens, Team Rector, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry. Cost: £8.00 per person, including sandwich lunch (pay on the day). To book: Phone 07803 562329 or email jonathan.evens@btinternet.com

Local History Day - Saturday 5 October 2024, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, St Catherine’s Church, 120 Southend Road, Wickford SS11 8EB. View our registers (baptisms, weddings, burials etc,), meet re-enactors from the Napoleonic Association, see a display on Wickford’s churches from Basildon Heritage, tour the church and churchyard, take part in a Scavenger Hunt, support our fundraising appeal, enjoy refreshments in our Church Hall. See our: Commonwealth War Graves; War Memorial for Wickford; William Butterfield reredos; 15th century font; Medieval chancel ceiling; and Stained glass commemorating local characters.

Craft Fayre - A wide range of handmade crafts from a variety of different stalls. Refreshments also available. Saturday 26 October 2024, 10.00 am – 3.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

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 Dave Crawford - Revelations.