19 February 2026
On Sunday 1 February, St Christopher’s Church in Jaywick revived the village’s commemoration service for the North Sea floods of 1953.
The service, led by the Vicar Fr Matt Simpkins, drew over a hundred people: the church’s largest congregation for many years.
The 1953 floods claimed the lives of 5% of Jaywick’s population at the time, and a memorial was established in St Christopher’s Church.
A number of survivors of the tragedy shared their stories, and others helped to light the memorial candle. Following a minute’s silence, the names of those who died were read.
With so many people attending, cups and mugs had to be borrowed from some of the nearby houses as memories were shared over refreshments.
Reflecting on the service, Fr Matt said:
“We were overwhelmed by the response to the commemoration service. With so many people attending, extra mugs and chairs had to be sourced after the service began!
“The Flood of 1953 was a moment that shaped Jaywick’s character. Its famous spirit of mutual help and community in part grew from the assistance Jaywick people gave to each other on that night in which 5% of the village's population was killed. The service was a wonderful opportunity to rededicate ourselves to a hope-filled future for Jaywick, shaped by mutual care and a richness of community that any place in England would benefit from."
Among the honoured guests were Nigel Spencer MBE, Deputy Lieutenant to the Lord Lieutenant of Essex; Cllr Bill Davidson, Chair of Tendring District Council; Carlo Bardetti, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Clacton RNLI Lifeboat Station, and the Rt Rev’d Roger Morris, the Bishop of Colchester, who preached the sermon.
Following the service, Nigel Spencer MBE wrote to the parish, commenting,
“It was a privilege to chat to so many residents, guests and church members. The whole atmosphere was upbeat, positive, and friendly."
