Movie church to reopen during Olympics

10:10am Friday 13th July 2012 in News

St Clement's Church, with the P&G factory in the background St Clement's Church, with the P&G factory in the background

THURROCK’s most famous film location will re-open to the public during the Olympic Games.

Locations across the borough have been used in a string of famous films over the years, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman Begins, and 28 Days Later to name but a few.

The list is long, but Thurrock’s most famous on screen appearance is probably St Clement’s Church in West Thurrock, used as the setting for the moving funeral scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

The church, in Clements Avenue, dates back to the 11th century, and sits on Procter & Gamble’s site, disused.

Four Weddings and A Funeral director, Mike Newell, praised the location while filming in Thurrock.

He said: "I wanted the sense of a fine church lost forlornly in an industrial landscape.

"The location scouts really delivered the goods."

P&G have decided to open it up again for the duration of the games, free of charge, and are hoping to attract visitors from around the world.

The church will be manned by volunteers from 11am to 3pm every day from July 27.

Jonathan Catton, Thurrock Council’s heritage officer said:“This is a fascinating church, somewhat hidden from view but I think all visitors will discover a wealth of hidden unexpected history once inside.”

For more information, call P&G on 01375 395000.

Comments(9)

Thurrock Trojan says...
10:11pm Fri 13 Jul 12

Whatever next? Opening the decrepit State Cinema in Grays just because a scene from Who Framed Roger Rabbit was filmed there in 1988?

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Bernard 87 says...
11:59pm Fri 13 Jul 12

The fact that this church is owned by P&G shows how in the past Thurrock has not looked after its heritage. Such a building should have been turned into a jewel in the boroughs crown rather than allowing a factory to subsume such an ancient site.

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Thurrock Trojan says...
1:25am Sat 14 Jul 12

I completely agree. If it weren't for P&G, the church would have been left to rack and ruin.

I have always been thankful to P&G for looking after that church.

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Dave_ says...
9:05am Sat 14 Jul 12

Agreed well done P&G, had this been down to Thurrock Council it would have ended up as housing estate, warehouse, lorry park etc etc as they lacked any sort of idea when it comes to local history and ensuring that it isn't allowed to become history. I feel that Coalhouse Fort could be a real draw to the area as could The State. But this would need some imagination in the Council and to have it followed through so we have no chance. Maybe they're expecting DPW to give them cash to squander as they got from Morrisons.
I have to wonder when you have things that could bring people in the form of visitors and therefore money, we have and continue to have had a council that is so bereft of imagination.

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Bernard 87 says...
9:23am Mon 16 Jul 12

AN Other is right that if more people went to church less churches would become redundant, but at the same time I'm just as guilty as most as I rarely go to church.

The comments about Muslims buying churches is news to me. I've never come across such a story anywhere. As for Africans buying churches, this is also nonsense. I have often said that churches should be able to serve all types Christianity. It seems silly to have people packed into a warehouse in West Thurrock, Dagenham or somewhere in Hackney on a Sunday afternoon when a 200 year old church is sitting a mile odd away empty. It's a shame that some of these African church groups (and other Christian groups who have to use halls etc) cannot come together with the Church of England and agree to share the buildings. This would also help with the maintainance costs as well as making sure that the buildings are being used fully.

This probably wouldn't be viable everywhere as there are many churches heaving with different clubs and organisations who use their buildings, but would be a good idea for churches which are struggling.

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Mattster says...
9:09pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Thurrock Trojan wrote:
Whatever next? Opening the decrepit State Cinema in Grays just because a scene from Who Framed Roger Rabbit was filmed there in 1988?
And the Deeper Underground video.

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Dave_ says...
7:21am Wed 18 Jul 12

I hope this encourages other of our traditional churches to open their doors to visitors.
I don't understand why people in 'Thurrock' have such a downer on The State. It has the potential, but needs the imagination of the council to allow an entertainment group buy it and use it properly as a venue. I think that the notion of requiring the imagination of the council is the sticking point, not the councillors in isolation, but the plethora of box tickers who actually control things. I tend to regard councillors as here today gone tomorrow, but the box tickers remain.

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Bernard 87 says...
9:18am Wed 18 Jul 12

Considering the lack of history in Grays town centre, it would be a shame for Grays to lose the State. Grays has one of the worst town centres in Essex and any regeneration plan has to include the State. Dave is right, the council have no vision other than to keep Thurrock in the same position. The State could be a local music venue, a comedy club, a place for locals to hire out for events (the right type of events however). Repairing that one building could have a massive impact on the rest of Grays. If it were to become a late night music venue, then pub chains would consider opening up in the town, restuarants may appear as they would have the footfall to make it worth their while.

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OckendonPaul says...
9:58am Wed 18 Jul 12

Here's a link for the benefit of Bernard.
http://menmedia.co.u
k/manchestereveningn
ews/news/s/1136108_c
ar_park_work_disturb
s_headstones
The headstones of ancient Britons being used as hardcore for the car park of our replacements...
This can be found by googling "church becomes mosque". If you google "mosque becomes church" there are no entries.
The wind is only blowing in one direction...

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