Messy Networking

Today started with collective worship at St Cedd's, a wonderful school in Chelmsford. The senior choir sang "He holds me in the palm of his hand" - superb, followed by "Happy" by Pharrell Williams - joyfully superb. Then on to Canvey Island to plan a Messy Church networking day. Plenty of sign ups so far so just going through the final details with Martin & Marion (pictured). Not easy getting 2 vicars to look comfortable. We'll host the event in a school which doubles as a church. This is one of the few school with a dedicated sanctuary.

Canvey Island lies off the SE coast of Essex in the Thames estuary & the whole of the Island is below sea level. For most of its recorded history, Canvey Island was offshore pasture, largely given over to sheep. It was also a site for salt harvesting, cultivation of shellfish and fishing and cereal production. The Island became home to around 200 Dutch immigrants in the early 17th century, who it is reported ‘sought refuge from the Duke of Alba, the butcher of Flanders’. At the start of the 20th century, the population of Canvey numbered about 300 people. At about that time, Canvey was heavily promoted as a holiday destination, primarily for Londoner’s, to escape the smog of the big city. Today's population is nearer 40,000.