Members of the Southend congregation, past and present, recently came together to celebrate fifty years since the Southend meetinghouse opened. Joining the festivities were the local MP, David Amess, and four Mayors of boroughs which fall within the congregation boundaries. The visiting dignitaries spoke of their admiration for the values of the Church members and their contribution to the community, and they kindly agreed to be judges for the cake competition in the wild-west themed event.
Many friends and neighbours came along for the event, as well as householders who lived in the streets near the meetinghouse. Photographs of the construction of the meetinghouse were on display, and there were fond memories of the earliest years of the building. A highlight of the evening was a specially recorded video message from a senior leader of the Church in Salt Lake City, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, who previously served as a full-time missionary in the area in his youth and remembered the meeting house well.
Bishop Jonathan Bleakley said, “This is a milestone for The Church in South Essex and a symbol of the permanence of the restored Church in England. It is also a physical monument to the faith, faithfulness and testimony of those early members of the Church here in Southend who have established a strong foundation on which our thriving congregation now stand. ”
Pictured from L to R - Bishop Bleakley (left) with the Mayors of four local boroughs, and MP David Amess.