In the week just past, Southend Christian Bookshop, which has served the people and churches of Southend for the past fifty years, closed, with no intention of ever re-opening.

I can even remember when the shop first opened and have visited it on many occasions over the years, and naturally I am sad that it has had to bow to the nigh inevitable. Five years I ago, I blogged on the subject “Save our Southend Christian Bookshop”, in the light of the financial difficulties it and similar operations were then going through. Over many years, the shop has operated at a loss but those involved believed it was God’s will to continue and provided a valuable resource to Christians and non-Christians alike, living in Southend and from much further afield, believing there has been a series of mini miracles that had taken place to allow them to continue. It should be borne in mind that other sister shops were opened but have now closed in nearby places. Many Christian bookshops in the UK have also had to close in recent years and what we have seen in Southend is part of a much wider pattern.  

One doesn’t need to go far to find reasons for the decline of this and small independent businesses in the UK, only to be replaced by larger non-independent enterprises whose business model includes online shopping and maximising profits (even this shop was light on books with a deeper theological message and branched out with more popular Christian related stuff such as cards, music videos and “Christian” stationary and other bits and bobs and memorabilia), typically not available other than online. Also, people do not read books to anywhere near the same extent as they did fifty years ago.

Moreover, books (even obscure ones) can be purchased at reasonable cost and with timely delivery, from the likes of Amazon, and these days can often be read online. What doesn’t happen is the type of personal service that had little to do with making a profit, money wise, such as provided by Southend Christian Bookshop. Hardly any among what has replaced it is likely to be doing what they do, out of service to the Almighty. Non money-making exercises, included providing generous discounts and free offers, giving out free Bibles, practically helping the homeless, sending gifts of suitable books to the likes of prisons and third world countries, and spending the time of day and providing comfort and a warm welcome to the lonely and needy and whoever happened to drop by.

Southend has lost an important resource and the Christian community is partly culpable and has lost an opportunity due to a lack of vision. Others sharing the shop’s values have taken the stock that remained. As for the premises, which in truth could benefit from an upgrade to meet modern demands, it is unlikely to be taken over by a comparable Christian enterprise. God is gracious; and He works in mysterious ways. Who can say what will replace it?  

Many can/should be mentioned in dispatches, including the good folk from different churches that have supported the shop over the years. This was evident in a farewell get together held at the shop just prior to closing. Then there are those who have served in the shop over the years, such as an old friend, Kim, sadly deceased. But special mention needs to be given to Paul (owner) and Michael (manager) for years of faithful service. As for what next, God only knows, and all of the above we must place into His hands.