Over 100 local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered to celebrate the opening of their new chapel in Colchester Road, Weeley on Sunday 27th October, with a special service attended by Councillor Peter Balbirnie, Vice Chair of Tendring District Council and other local councillors. The meeting was under the direction of Simon Fagg, local Church leader for the Ipswich area. Those assembled heard of the spiritual journey which has lasted for 35 years.
Doreen Baker, the longest serving member of the original Clacton congregation, spoke first, and told of the different venues where the members gathered to worship. They started in a run-down Nissan hut in Great Clacton, where the roof leaked whenever it rained. After the challenges of meeting in four different halls, they moved to the Tendring College of Technology in Thorpe-le-Soken and the renamed Tendring Branch was formed on 24th October 1993, with Hayden Dixon as local Church leader. The congregation has continued to meet there until this month, when the local chapel was opened.
There were talks by past local Church leaders who had previously served in Tendring: Hayden Dixon, Andrew Brown, Kevin Francis, Jason Watling, Sam Morton & Nigel Rowe, some of whom had travelled many miles for this special occasion. Current Branch President, Nigel Rowe, said that the desire of the members was to emulate the Saviour, Jesus Christ, by serving those around them.
In his closing remarks, President Fagg gave thanks & appreciation to all who had contributed to the establishment of the Tendring congregation, especially the women, who are the bed-rock of family life, which is paramount to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.