As the number of Syrian Orthodox families from Kerala increased in Basildon and its surrounding areas, need for a local service became a predominant spiritual necessity. A few members of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox family in Basildon and Southend areas held a meeting at the residence of Mr Babu Mani in Basildon to discuss the relevance of starting a local service for Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in Basildon. The people who gathered there unanimously agreed with the necessity of a local service and they themselves decided to act as an organising committee for the initial set up of the church and the service in Basildon. As a result of that, by the grace of God almighty and with the kind permission of HE Mathews Mor Aphrem, the patriarchal vicar of UK region then, the parish was established in the name of mother Mary and was called St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Basildon on 20th of August 2011, under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch & All the East , Rev. Fr Raju Abraham Cheruvillil as the first Vicar. The first Holy Qurbana was celebrated by the vicar on Saturday, the 20th of August 2011 at St Andrews Church, 3 The Fremnells Basildon. We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to Rev Margaret Shaw, Rev Rob Binks (former Vicars of St Andrews Church), Mrs Marion Marshall, and all the church members of St Andrews Church Basildon for their kind support and permission for using their church hall for our service.