Unveiled, Exhibition, Quiet Day and other events

Unveiled is 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 and above for our Summer 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 2026

11 April (7.00 pm) – Poetry reading. Spencer Reece is Rector of St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wickford, Rhode Island. Hear this internationally acclaimed poet read poems from his future collection Farewell Symphony.

24 April (7.00 pm) – Exhibition viewing evening. View our new exhibition ‘Light in the Darkness’ and hear artist Tracey Walker speak about her work.

8 May (7.30 pm) – An Evening with the Brandy Hole Sea Shantymen. An evening of sea shanties. All welcome! Includes an auction of art and music items.

22 May (7.00 pm) – Showing of ‘Voices Beyond the Wall: 12 Love Poems from the Murder Capital of the World’. An award-winning film on Fr Spencer Reece’s project teaching poetry to abandoned girls at the Our Little Roses orphanage in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

5 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!

19 June (7.00 pm) – An evening with the Ladygate Scribblers. Hear poetry and prose from a long-established Wickford-based writers’ group.

3 July (7.30 pm) – Tim Almond in concert. Around the World in 60 minutes... a musical journey meeting people from Ecuador to the Philippines, inspired by three decades work and travel in Africa, Asia and South America.

17 July (7.00 pm) – Art talk: Churches and cultural programming. Jonathan Evens speaks about a range of ways in which churches can engage with culture.

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.


Also find above details of the next art exhibition to be held at St Andrew's Church in Wickford. ‘Light in the Darkness’ is an exhibition by Tracey Walker from 8 April – 17 July 2026.

Tracey Walker

From a traditional art background, through a long career in commercial art, Tracey now finds freedom in her artistic practice, allowing her to express her joyful, spiritual creativity.

She loves to explore themes of light, faith and hope in her paintings, using colour, form and texture to evoke emotions and create atmospheres, drawing the onlookers into a bright and beautiful world.

She is passionate about encouraging people to explore their own creativity through a variety of art groups and workshops.

A member of Chelsea Arts Club and Artists at the Meadows, she exhibits and sells her work throughout the UK and internationally.

www.tawalker.com
IG: tawalker_art
FB: Tracey Walker Art

We are also fortunate to have a visit in this period from internationally known and prize-winning poet Spencer Reece. Fr Spencer is Rector of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wickford, Rhode Island, and an internationally acclaimed poet. His project teaching poetry to abandoned girls at the Our Little Roses orphanage in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, was made into an award-winning film, Voices Beyond the Wall: 12 Love Poems from the Murder Capital of the World. His dream, prayer, and ultimate goal for his time with St. Paul’s Church is to continue the ongoing work of the parish in spreading Jesus’ radical love. “Let kindness be our legacy,” he has said.

http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/
https://www.stpaulswickford.org/
https://www.spencerreece.org/

Meet Fr Spencer at:

8 April – Midweek Eucharist, 10.30 am, St Andrew’s Wickford

8 April – Bread for the World Service, 6.30 pm, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London (Fr Spencer will share a reflection on the road to Emmaus)

9 April – ‘The Broken Altar’, a talk on George Herbert, 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Lower Bemerton (Fr Spencer is giving this talk at the invitation of the George Herbert in Bemerton group - https://www.georgeherbert.org.uk/about/ghb_group.html)

10 April – Unveiled: Poetry Reading, 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Wickford

11 April – Quiet Day: Poetry & Prayer, 10.30 am - 3.30 pm, St Mary’s Runwell (Fr Spencer will share poems and reflections on George Herbert)

12 April – Eucharist, 9.30 am, St Mary’s Runwell and Eucharist, 11.00 am, St Catherine’s Wickford (Fr Spencer will preach at both of these services); 4.00 pm, Showing of Voices Beyond the Wall, St Andrew’s Wickford

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Poetry Holds Us Together with Spencer Reece.

Concerts at St Andrew's Wickford

 

We have three concerts coming up shortly at St Andrew's Church:

Rev Simpkins in concert, Friday 17 November, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN
No ticket required – donations requested on the night

Rev Simpkins and Pissabed Prophet: Suffolk-Essex musician, Rev Simpkins, presents an evening of acoustic music of great imagination and charm, inspired by the history and geography of East Anglia.

The Rev will perform songs from his acclaimed folk albums Big Sea and Saltings, before his band Pissabed Prophet, formed with Dingus Khan’s Ben Brown and Nick Daldry, takes to the stage to play their first ever acoustic set.

The Rev’s sweeping melodies, rich harmonies, and fascinating lyrics have won him both a cult following and national acclaim.

This is a rare chance to experience the breadth of the Rev’s work in one evening.

"BIZARRE POST-PUNK MASTERY...LUDICROUSLY COOL" 8/10 Vive le Rock on Pissabed Prophet

"A MOST JOYOUS ALBUM...A WORK WITH AN OVER-ARCHING SENSE OF COMMUNITY, LIFE, LOVE, AND NATURE, WHILST ALSO MUSING ON THE CYCLICAL INEVITABILITY OF DEATH AND DECAY" Fatea Magazine on Pissabed Prophet

"ENERGETIC...GLORIOUS...A DANDELION FIELD FULL OF FRESH CUT GOODNESS" The Organ on Pissabed Prophet


1 December – Mission to Seafarers evening including Sea Shanties:

Enjoy a selection of sea shanties from The Crayshillbillies, a group of local singers led by John Rogers. Also hear about the Mission to Seafarers which provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewmen and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. Hear more about their work from Paul Trathen, Port Development Manager.


Take Note in concert
Saturday 9 December, 3.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

Take Note are an all-male a Cappella group of up to 12 singers formed in 2015. They sing many genres of music across many eras in four-part harmony. Their wide-ranging repertoire includes traditional male voice choir numbers, popular songs from the 50s and 60s sung in close harmony doo wop style, comedy items and other a Cappella arrangements that they think will appeal to their audiences.

This concert is a fundraiser for St Andrew’s Church. No tickets required. Donations requested on the day.

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Pissabed Prophet - Evensong.

Wickford Heroes and other Unveiled events

 

The Crayshillbillies rehearsing for the Sea Shanty evening

We had a fascinating evening tonight at Unveiled in St Andrew's Wickford hearing about those from Wickford who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars. Our thanks to Steve Newman, of the Wickford War Memorial Association, for his informative talk. Find out more about Wickford War Memorial Association at https://www.wickfordmemorial.com/.

Those who came also saw the 'Wickford Remembers' display which is at St Catherine's Wickford until 12 November. This has archive photographs and stories of those who served in the two World Wars. Our thanks to Basildon Heritage for the display. Visitors can also see the War Memorial and Commonwealth War Graves at St Catherine's.

Additionally, 'From Hong Kong to Wickford' is the autumn exhibition at St Andrew's Wickford. This exhibition is a Multifaceted Pictorial Display with Stories by Ho Wai-On (Ann-Kay) & Friends and is at the church from 26 September – 16 December 2023. St Andrew’s opening hours: Sat 9 am - 12.30 pm; Sun 9.30 am - 12 noon; Mon 2 – 3.45 pm; Tue 1 – 4.30 pm; Wed 10 am - 12 noon; Fri 10 am – 1 pm.

Next, are three further Unveiled events (all are 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN):

Rev Simpkins in concert, Friday 17 November, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN
No ticket required – donations requested on the night

Rev Simpkins and Pissabed Prophet: Suffolk-Essex musician, Rev Simpkins, presents an evening of acoustic music of great imagination and charm, inspired by the history and geography of East Anglia.

The Rev will perform songs from his acclaimed folk albums Big Sea and Saltings, before his band Pissabed Prophet, formed with Dingus Khan’s Ben Brown and Nick Daldry, takes to the stage to play their first ever acoustic set.

The Rev’s sweeping melodies, rich harmonies, and fascinating lyrics have won him both a cult following and national acclaim.

This is a rare chance to experience the breadth of the Rev’s work in one evening.

"BIZARRE POST-PUNK MASTERY...LUDICROUSLY COOL" 8/10 Vive le Rock on Pissabed Prophet

"A MOST JOYOUS ALBUM...A WORK WITH AN OVER-ARCHING SENSE OF COMMUNITY, LIFE, LOVE, AND NATURE, WHILST ALSO MUSING ON THE CYCLICAL INEVITABILITY OF DEATH AND DECAY" Fatea Magazine on Pissabed Prophet

"ENERGETIC...GLORIOUS...A DANDELION FIELD FULL OF FRESH CUT GOODNESS" The Organ on Pissabed Prophet

Read my review of Pissabed Prophet here.

1 December – Mission to Seafarers evening including Sea Shanties: The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewmen and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. Hear more about their work from Paul Trathen, Port Development Manager. Also enjoy a selection of sea shanties from The Crayshillbillies, a group of local singers led by John Rogers.

15 December – Film Night: It's a Wonderful Life. The story of dejected and desperate George Bailey, who's spent his whole life in the small town of Bedford Falls, but longs to explore the world. Reaching rock bottom, he starts to believe that everyone in his life would be better off if he had never been born. An angel shows him how important a role he's had in the lives of friends and family.

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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Rev Simpkins - For Every Number.

Unveiled - November and December

The next 'Unveiled' evening is 'Wickford Heroes': A talk by Steve Newman, 3 November 2023, 7.00 pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

Hear Steve Newman of the Wickford War Memorial Association and author of ‘Wickford Heroes - The Wickford & Runwell Roll of Honour Book’ speak about the War Memorial & some of those from Wickford & Runwell who made the supreme sacrifice in the World Wars.

See also the 'Wickford Remembers' display at St Catherine's Wickford until 12 November. Archive photographs and stories of those who served in the two World Wars. Our thanks to Basildon Heritage for the display. See also the War Memorial and Commonwealth War Graves at St Catherine's.

Additionally, 'From Hong Kong to Wickford' is the autumn exhibition at St Andrew's Wickford. This exhibition is a Multifaceted Pictorial Display with Stories by Ho Wai-On (Ann-Kay) & Friends and is at the church from 26 September – 16 December 2023. St Andrew’s opening hours: Sat 9 am - 12.30 pm; Sun 9.30 am - 12 noon; Mon 2 – 3.45 pm; Tue 1 – 4.30 pm; Wed 10 am - 12 noon; Fri 10 am – 1 pm.

After 'Wickford Heroes' there are two further Unveiled events:

Rev Simpkins in concert, Friday 17 November, 7.00 pm
St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN
No ticket required – donations requested on the night

Rev Simpkins and Pissabed Prophet: Suffolk-Essex musician, Rev Simpkins, presents an evening of acoustic music of great imagination and charm, inspired by the history and geography of East Anglia.

The Rev will perform songs from his acclaimed folk albums Big Sea and Saltings, before his band Pissabed Prophet, formed with Dingus Khan’s Ben Brown and Nick Daldry, takes to the stage to play their first ever acoustic set.

The Rev’s sweeping melodies, rich harmonies, and fascinating lyrics have won him both a cult following and national acclaim.

This is a rare chance to experience the breadth of the Rev’s work in one evening.

"BIZARRE POST-PUNK MASTERY...LUDICROUSLY COOL" 8/10 Vive le Rock on Pissabed Prophet

"A MOST JOYOUS ALBUM...A WORK WITH AN OVER-ARCHING SENSE OF COMMUNITY, LIFE, LOVE, AND NATURE, WHILST ALSO MUSING ON THE CYCLICAL INEVITABILITY OF DEATH AND DECAY" Fatea Magazine on Pissabed Prophet

"ENERGETIC...GLORIOUS...A DANDELION FIELD FULL OF FRESH CUT GOODNESS" The Organ on Pissabed Prophet

Read my review of Pissabed Prophet here.

1 December – Mission to Seafarers evening including Sea Shanties: The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewmen and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. Hear more about their work from Paul Trathen, Port Development Manager. Also enjoy a selection of sea shanties from local singers led by John Rogers.

15 December – Film Night: It's a Wonderful Life. The story of dejected and desperate George Bailey, who's spent his whole life in the small town of Bedford Falls, but longs to explore the world. Reaching rock bottom, he starts to believe that everyone in his life would be better off if he had never been born. An angel shows him how important a role he's had in the lives of friends and family.

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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Pissabed Prophet - Evensong.

Unveiled - Poetry & Prayer

The autumn programme of arts and culture events at St Andrew's Wickford (11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN) continues next Friday with 'Poetry & Prayer' (all events begin at 7.00 pm):

• 22 September – Poetry and Prayer: Hear Jonathan Evens speak about and read poems about prayer and poems that are prayers. Enjoy poems by John Berryman, John Donne, Carol Ann Duffy, George Herbert, Ann Lewin and Mary Oliver among others.
• 6 October – From Hong Kong to Wickford: See the multifaceted pictorial display at St Andrew’s created by Wickford-based composer Ho Wai-On. It features stories of a lifetime of interaction with UK-Hong Kong based artists/people that have resulted in many creative works. Hear Wai-On speak about the exhibition, her career and her creative projects.
• 20 October – An evening with the Ladygate Scribblers. Hear poetry and prose from a long-established Wickford-based writers’ group.
• 3 November – Wickford Heroes: Hear Steve Newman of the Wickford War Memorial Association and author of ‘Wickford Heroes - The Wickford & Runwell Roll of Honour Book’ speak about the War Memorial & some of those from Wickford & Runwell who made the supreme sacrifice in the World Wars.
• 17 November – Rev Simpkins in concert featuring songs from ‘Pissabed Prophet’ – “Melodious, chaotic, gloriously energetic, the fruit of the fevered musical imaginations of Matty Simpkins (Rev Simpkins) and Ben Brown (Dingus Khan, SuperGlu).”
• 1 December – Mission to Seafarers evening including Sea Shanties: The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewmen and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. Hear more about their work from Paul Trathen, Port Development Manager. Also enjoy a selection of sea shanties from local singers led by John Rogers.
• 15 December – Film Night: It's a Wonderful Life. The story of dejected and desperate George Bailey, who's spent his whole life in the small town of Bedford Falls, but longs to explore the world. Reaching rock bottom, he starts to believe that everyone in his life would be better off if he had never been born. An angel shows him how important a role he's had in the lives of friends and family.

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.

Our autumn exhibition is FROM HONG KONG TO WICKFORD A Multifaceted Pictorial Display with Stories, an exhibition by Ho Wai-On (Ann-Kay) and Friends running from 25 September – 16 December 2023 at St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

Dr Ho Wai-On: Surname Ho, known to colleagues as Wai-On. She comes from Hong Kong where the surname is followed by the given name that represents the individual. She has lived in Wickford for about 15 years and is known to locals as Ann-Kay (her childhood name). Before moving to Wickford, she lived in London for more than 30 years.

Best known as a composer and creator/director of combined-art works and projects, this multifaceted pictorial display features her lifetime of interaction with UK and Hong Kong based artists/people that have resulted in many creative works. It also tells the stories of these people and their work.

The Display features the following:

• ‘Acis & Galatea’: Dance-opera directed by Ho Wai-On for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts
• ‘Blessed’ – Stations of the Cross with Beatitude: An offering to St. Andrew's from Ho Wai-On
• Clark Ainsworth (UK-HK): Hong Kong photographs
• Dr Juliet Chenery-Robson (Sunderland): Visual artist
• Ruth Cutler (Ramsgate): Mixed media
• Graham Ekins (Boreham): Hong Kong birds photographs
• Ho Wai-On (Ann-Kay HK-UK): Music videos; combined arts; design and photographs
• Inter-Artes: Performing group formed by Ho Wai-On
• Polly Hope (London): Artist
• Herry Lawford (Stockbridge): Chelsea Flower Show photographs
• Professor Stephen Matthews (UK-HK): Hong Kong birds photographs
• Ben Rector (Wickford): Photographer
• Roy Reed (UK): Photographer
• Martin Singleton (Wickford): UK birds photographs
• Albert Tang (HK-London): Stage/costume/poster/cover design and more
• “THEME HONG KONG“: Project
• Dr David Tong (Sidcup): Poetry
• True Light Old Girls (Ho Wai-On's old school): Choy May-Chu (HK-Taiwan); drawings/paintings; Kitty Kwan (HK-UK-AU-US) photos; Toby Man (HK-US) drawing
• Marcus West (Cardiff): Computer graphics
• Benson Wong (HK-UK-HK): Fashion/textile/jewellery design & digital portraits

N.B., ( ) indicates residency. E.g., (HK-UK-AU-US) = From Hong Kong, then lived in the UK, Australia, now lives in the US.

Ho Wai-On says: “My memory of life in Hong Kong is about 15 years, which is about the same as I have been living in Wickford. In between, for more than 30 years, I lived mostly in London and went back to Hong Kong from time to time. With UK-based professionals in creative and performing arts, I created and staged performances of works/projects that combine music, dance, drama and visual art across different cultures, sometimes with relevant displays. This multifaceted pictorial display at St. Andrew's Church features stories of my lifetime's interaction with UK-Hong Kong based artists and people and the resulting creative works, and tells you about these people and their work. I hope this might encourage audiences' interest in getting to know more.”

Special opportunities to view the exhibition include:

• Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon Celebration Viewing with Refreshments, Friday 29 September, 7.00 – 9.00 pm: Friday 29 September is the Mid-Autumn Festival (Harvest Moon to the English) - one of the most important festivals celebrated by ethnic Chinese, and also celebrated in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other countries in East and Southeast Asia. People, and especially family members, gather together to eat and to look at the moon at its brightest and roundest in a year. Rod Reed's photos of "Mid-Autumn in London Chinatown", commissioned by Inter-Artes, are featured in the Display.
• ‘Flying Wild – Beautiful Birds and Insects’ talk by Martin Singleton (Wickford Wildlife Society) with exhibition viewing, Monday 2 October, 7.30 pm: Martin Singleton will talk about the creatures found with his photographs which are included in the Display.
• Unveiled exhibition viewing evening, Friday 6 October, 7.00 – 9.00 pm: Meet Ho Wai-On and hear about the exhibition, her career and her creative projects.

Ho Wai-On’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AKLHWO/videos
Ho Wai-On’s Website: www.howaion.co.uk

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Mary Gauthier - Prayer Without Words.