Antioch Christian Centre, the church-run community centre and registered charity on Copperworks Road, Llanelli, is celebrating three milestones this year: 40 years since Antioch church began – starting in one person’s house – 30 years in its current building, and 10 years under the leadership of Pastors Ben and Beth Taylor.
The anniversaries will be marked with a Summer Fun Day taking over the whole site on Friday 7 August 2026, 10am–2pm.
For many years, Antioch’s soft play area Crazy Maisie’s was a beloved host to children’s birthday parties and remains a fond memory for local families. Covid restrictions brought that chapter to a close, and the space was reopened in August 2024 with the inaugural Fun Day, shifting the focus from birthday parties to community events, after-school play sessions, and family activities.
Crazy Maisie’s remains one of the day’s biggest draws, with free play sessions for children aged 9 and under. Pre-booked sessions are now full, but a small number of spaces will be held back and released on the day.
Elsewhere on site, the main hall will host local organisations offering information and support for families alongside free children’s activities, including face painting, pebble decorating, bracelet making, glitter tattoos, chair aerobics (suitable for all the family, and great fun!), a prayer/hope/dream tree, colouring, and fruity fun. All organisation spaces for this year’s event are now full.
The celebrations continue across the building, with family cookalong sessions run by Cegin Y Bobl in a room with its own history. For a decade until May 2024 it was home to the Hywel Dda blood test clinic, and before that it was home to Mission Music, a youth club that once drew as many as 100 young people on a single night.
Elsewhere in the building, there’s indoor sports in the Garden Room and costumed princess characters hosting sing-alongs as well as meet-and-greets. Free refreshments will also be served in the Wheelhouse Café. No booking is required for any of these activities, and the whole site remains open to explore.
Ben Taylor, Senior Church Leader, said: “I have the privilege of reflecting on what has been an incredible journey. This building stands as a testament to what can be achieved when people come together with a shared vision of hope, service and community.
What was once a derelict factory has, through God’s faithfulness and the dedication of the congregation alongside the support of the wider community, been transformed into a thriving community centre that serves people from across the area. The Funday is an opportunity not only to celebrate this important milestone, but also to say thank you to everyone who has played a part in the story of Antioch Church over the past 30 years.
It will be a joyful occasion that recognises God’s goodness and looks forward with hope to all that lies ahead. We warmly invite everyone to come along, celebrate with us, and be part of this special day as we give thanks for the past and look forward to the future together.”
The event is free to attend. A limited number of Crazy Maisie’s play sessions will be released on the day (10 spaces per hour, 40 in total), while the rest of the site’s activities are open to all with no booking required.
For more information, contact El Edwards via info@antiochchurch.co.uk.
