Illumination - a free exhibition of biblical calligraphy

for 5 hours
Hadleigh: St James the Less
High Street Hadleigh Southend, SS7 2PA, United Kingdom

Illumination is a free exhibition of biblical calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts, at St James the Less on Saturday 24 October, 10.00am to 3.00pm.

At its centre are facsimile volumes of The Saint John's Bible - a modern handwritten and illuminated Bible, seven volumes in all, lettered and decorated by hand. You can see the pages close up, and find out how biblical texts were written, decorated and illustrated long before the printed page.

Entry is free and everyone is welcome, whether you come to church or not. Children are very welcome.

School groups: St James is open to schools by appointment from Monday 19 to Friday 23 October, free of charge, with a hands-on session in calligraphy and illumination. It links well to RE, history and art. Please contact the Revd Mark Smeed on 01268 211009 or [email protected].

The same exhibition is at St Peter's, Thundersley the week before - schools from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, and open to the public on Saturday 17 October, 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Hadleigh: St James the Less

St James the Less is a stunningly beautiful grade one listed building and offers a comfortable, warm and well-lit environment for Christian worship. The Saxon and Norman architecture is complemented by a range of contemporary features which include baby-changing facilities, easy access for those with disabilities, a hearing loop system, a modern meeting room and a new carpeted worship area.

Sunday services

8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) — 1st and 3rd Sundays. A short, quiet service in traditional language, offering a still and reflective space for anyone who would like time to connect with God.

11.00am Holy Communion or Morning Worship (CW) — our main service, with hymns and a relaxed atmosphere. People of all ages are welcome. Refreshments from 10.30am and afterwards.

6.30pm Evensong (BCP) — 1st Sunday. A sung evening service, gentle and calming, using music as a way of connecting with God.

Children are very welcome

We love having children at our services, and the 11.00am is the one most suited to them.

If your child makes a noise, or runs up and down the aisles, we honestly do not mind. Please do not feel you have to sit at the back, or take them out, or apologise. Children belong here just as they are, and the sound of them is a good sound in a church.

Midweek

Wednesday 10.30am Holy Communion (CW) — a shorter service, with refreshments afterwards.

BCP and CW

BCP is the Book of Common Prayer of 1662, in traditional language. It begins by being honest about how we arrive — as we are, in need of mercy — and carries us through, so that we leave connected and thankful.

CW is Common Worship, the Church of England’s modern service book, in today’s English. It draws more on creation, light and space as a way into the presence of God.

At Holy Communion bread and wine are shared — all are welcome, whether to receive or to come for a blessing.

New to church?

→ Why we do what we do

An explanation of what happens in a service and why — the procession, the standing and sitting, the sermon, Communion — written for anyone who would like to follow it, and for anyone who would rather just watch.

You are welcome at any of our services, whether you come every week or have not been to church in years.

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Get in touch

Rev Mark Smeed

Associate Minister
01268 211009
What's on

Illumination - a free exhibition of biblical calligraphy

for 5 hours
Hadleigh: St James the Less
High Street Hadleigh Southend, SS7 2PA, United Kingdom

Illumination is a free exhibition of biblical calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts, at St James the Less on Saturday 24 October, 10.00am to 3.00pm.

At its centre are facsimile volumes of The Saint John's Bible - a modern handwritten and illuminated Bible, seven volumes in all, lettered and decorated by hand. You can see the pages close up, and find out how biblical texts were written, decorated and illustrated long before the printed page.

Entry is free and everyone is welcome, whether you come to church or not. Children are very welcome.

School groups: St James is open to schools by appointment from Monday 19 to Friday 23 October, free of charge, with a hands-on session in calligraphy and illumination. It links well to RE, history and art. Please contact the Revd Mark Smeed on 01268 211009 or [email protected].

The same exhibition is at St Peter's, Thundersley the week before - schools from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, and open to the public on Saturday 17 October, 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Safeguarding

The parish of Hadleigh: St James the Less is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults, and follows the House of Bishops' guidance and the safeguarding policy and practice of the Diocese of Chelmsford.

If you are worried that a child or an adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Marion Ketley, on 01268 211009, or the Diocese of Chelmsford Safeguarding Team on 01245 294444. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.

How to report a concern, and other sources of help, are on our safeguarding page.

Safeguarding at St James