Church’s Centenary Celebrations

A WESTCLIFF church community invited residents, worshippers and dignitaries to celebrate as they marked their centenary with a special three-day event.
Kings Road United Reformed Church on King’s Road marked the milestone with a weekend of events from June 12 to 14, culminating in the burial of a time capsule in the church grounds by the Mayor of Southend, Tony Cox.
The well-attended celebrations offered opportunities to reconnect through shared meals, singalongs, and an evening concert featuring performances from groups who regularly hire the church, including the Orpheus Singers, Southend Elite Cheerleading Company and Platform Theatre, highlighting the strong community ties that surround the church.
Visitors also enjoyed a display of church memorabilia, including photographs, documents, and treasured items from across the last century that offered a moving glimpse into the lives, traditions, and milestones that have shaped the church’s story.
The weekend culminated on Sunday with a Thanksgiving Service led by Moderator Revd. Lythan Nevard, after which the time capsule was buried.
Mr Cox was joined by ward councillors and the MP for Southend West, David Burton-Sampson, to inter the capsule, which contained a selection of material representative of the contemporary church, from disposable communion cups, and phots of people that joined the zoom prayer meetings during Covid, to posters of church events and meetings, an invitation to the weekend celebrations, and samples of today’s currency.
Back in 1926, the church began its life as Crowstone Congregational Church, before it joined with St. George’s Church and Westcliff United Reformed Church joined to form the Kings Road Church as it is known today.
Church Elder, Margaret Bidmead reflected on the role the church has played in many people’s lives, and the vital place it still holds in the heart of the community.
“For one hundred years, people have gathered to worship in our church sanctuary. I have been associated with the church for over seventy years, and it is a great privilege to serve as a church elder.
“Over the decades, the church community has become like a second family to me, giving me many lifelong friends and treasured memories” she said.
Describing the success of the weekend, she added: “The centenary events drew a wonderful mix of people — long standing members, visitors from neighbouring churches, and many friends from across the local community, serving as a powerful reminder of what has always made this sanctuary special — a community of faith that opens its doors wide and stands together in gratitude.”
Pictures: The Mayor of Southend and Mr Burton-Sampson with the capsule & Revd Lythan Nevard
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