Groups and Mission

Services are all taking place via ‘Zoom’: please see our ‘Services’ page or the ‘Home’ page or the ‘News’ page.

The churches in the town are places where people of Brightlingsea have met to be with each other and to meet with God for over a thousand years. They are places where we thank God for God’s love in creation, where we pray to God for help to live our lives well in good times and hard times. For these reasons the church is central to Brightlingsea; not just because of the location and historical importance of its buildings.

There are many opportunities for people to come together within the Church family. Please see the ‘Services’ and ‘Events’ pages on this website to find out times and places of worship and meetings.

Prayer. St James’ Church would normally be open for private prayer from 8.00 to 2.00 on weekdays but during the current lockdown is not open.

Normally, when there is no lockdown, we hold Parish Prayer services each week in St James’ Church on a Tuesday morning from 9 am to 9.30. The prayer meetings on Thursday morning at 8.15 to 8.45 a.m. and on Friday mornings at 10.30 have been suspended until the pandemic abates sufficiently to allow us to resume.

The Church office is not attended during the lockdown but you can leave a message on the voicemail or send an e-mail. Please either ring to leave a message on 01206 30 23 78; or send an email to brightlingseaparish@btconnect.com. Messages are routinely collected.

Coffee Time and breakfast! The well-attended weekly Saturday Morning Coffee from 9 am to 12 noon is suspended during the lockdown. There are usually cakes and cards for sale. Everyone is welcome. Resumption of cooked breakfast on the 3rd Saturday of each month may well be some way off.

Mothers’ Union Offers Christian care for families worldwide and has a membership of 3.6 million in 77 countries. The Brightlingsea Branch meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm at St James’ Church in Victoria Place (though not during the current lockdown).. For more information contact Mrs Kathy Tidman on 01206 302428 or go to www.themothersunion.org. Please contact Kathy to find out about meetings during the pandemic

Monthly simple lunches are normally held from 12.30pm to 1.30pm in St James’ Church, in aid of Christian Aid and CAFOD but have been suspended during the pandemic. Soup and a roll with butter and cheese followed by tea and coffee for £2.00. For more information telephone 01206 302170 or go to www.churches-together.net

Open House. A monthly Open House is normally held at Janet Russell’s 38 High Street, Brightlingsea 10.30 am to 12.00 noon but has been suspended during the pandemic. All are welcome to share in a ‘cuppa’, a very good chat and a prayer. Dates are published on our Events page. Contact: Janet Russell on 01206 30 55 52 or janetrussell38@btinternet.com