Hope Christian Fellowship in La Marina Urbanisation has been supporting residents of San Fulgencio and the surrounding area for more than 13 years, combining regular Christian worship with a wide range of practical community services. From free paperwork assistance and charity fundraising to social activities and pastoral care, the church has become an important meeting place for both permanent residents and visitors on the Costa Blanca.

More than a decade of community support

Hope Christian Fellowship in La Marina Urbanisation has spent more than 13 years serving San Fulgencio and the surrounding area, combining regular worship with practical support for local residents.

Founded under the leadership of Pastor Bryan Lowry, the congregation raised enough money to buy its own church building, opposite the popular Thursday market. Earlier this year Pastor Lowry retired at the age of 93, handing over leadership to Pastor Mary Walker.

Sunday services begin at 11.00 AM and are conducted in English, attracting worshippers from a wide range of nationalities and Christian traditions. The relaxed, contemporary style and informal atmosphere make visitors and holidaymakers feel welcome, while refreshments after each service provide an opportunity to meet others and make new friends.

Practical help for local residents

Pastor Mary’s vision is to place the church at the heart of the community. Working alongside local charity A.A.N., the church collects food for those in need and also provides financial support for the organisation.

Every Thursday, from 10.00 AM until 1.00 PM, the church’s Cornerstone group offers free assistance with paperwork, including Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, the Ley of Dependency, medical appointments and TIE applications. Mobility aids are also available to borrow.

These practical services have become a valuable source of support for many local residents, particularly those navigating Spanish administration or seeking advice on accessing healthcare and social services.

Charity work and new community activities

The church supports overseas mission projects, The Message Trust in the UK and prison ministry in Ukraine through monthly fundraising lunches.

Community activities also include the women’s WOW group, held every six weeks, and a new initiative, A Cup of Joy and a Chatter, launching on 3 September from 11.00am to 1.00pm. The free gathering will offer drinks, snacks, music, crafts and games for anyone wishing to enjoy friendly company.

Hope Christian Fellowship is at Calle Justo Antonio Quesada 19A, La Marina Urbanisation, opposite the Thursday market. For information call (+34) 631 452 546 or send a WhatsApp message to (+34) 634 452 546.

Visitors to Elda’s Archaeological Museum can discover more than nine centuries of local history through a new exhibition exploring the city’s Islamic past. Featuring archaeological finds and historical displays, the exhibition offers a fascinating insight into how Islamic culture shaped Elda and the lasting legacy it left on the town’s architecture, religion and daily life.

Exhibition traces 900 years of history

Visitors to Elda’s Archaeological Museum can explore more than 900 years of local history in a new exhibition highlighting the city’s Islamic past.

La Huella Islamica (The Islamic Footprint) will remain on display until May 2027, offering an insight into the Andalusi period in Elda and the legacy it left behind.

The exhibition traces the story from the arrival of Islam in the Iberian Peninsula in 711 through to the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609.

Visitors can learn how settlements evolved after the Pact of Tudmir in 713, when local communities were allowed to retain their religion and property in return for paying tribute.

Everyday life in medieval Elda

One section focuses on the Almohad period during the 12th and 13th centuries, when Elda Castle was built as a defensive stronghold and an Andalusi settlement grew around it. Archaeological excavations in the old town have uncovered the remains of homes, pottery, cooking utensils, storage jars and oil lamps, providing a picture of everyday life at the time.

The exhibition uses these discoveries to illustrate how people lived, worked and traded, while demonstrating the importance of Elda as a settlement during the medieval Islamic period.

Other displays examine Islamic religious practices, including prayer, burial customs and the location of the town’s former Muslim cemetery, before following Elda’s transition after the Christian conquest in 1244 and the later conversion of the main mosque into the Church of Santa Catalina Martir.

Preserving an important chapter of local history

The exhibition concludes with the expulsion of around 2,200 Moriscos from Elda in 1609, an event that marked the end of a significant chapter in the town’s history.

By bringing together archaeological evidence and historical interpretation, La Huella Islamica offers visitors the opportunity to better understand the cultural influences that helped shape modern-day Elda. The exhibition provides a valuable insight into one of the municipality’s most important historical periods and will remain open until May 2027.

Gran Alacant has taken another important step towards improving local healthcare after plans for a long-awaited new medical centre received official approval. The new facility will provide modern medical services for the area’s growing population and has been designed with space for future expansion as demand continues to increase.

Health ministry approves site for new medical centre

Gran Alacant has moved a step closer to getting its long-awaited new medical centre after the Valencian Health Ministry approved the proposed site and delegated construction powers to Santa Pola Town Hall.

The future health centre will be built on a 5,450 square metre plot in Calle Monte, close to the new El Faro school.

The project is expected to take 18 months to complete once construction begins, meaning the new facility is unlikely to open before 2028.

The town hall has already approved a separate project to prepare the site and build access roads, with those works funded from municipal resources and expected to begin next year.

Modern healthcare facilities for a growing community

The single-storey building will have a constructed area of more than 1,600 square metres and will replace the existing Gran Alacant medical centre on Avenida de Escandinavia.

Plans include six GP consulting rooms, five nursing rooms, two paediatric surgeries with dedicated children’s nursing facilities, a midwife’s consultation room, treatment and blood sampling areas, waiting rooms, administrative offices, staff facilities, storage areas and technical services.

The site has also been designed to allow future expansion if the area’s growing population requires additional healthcare services, while a large car park will be provided for patients.

The new health centre is expected to significantly improve access to healthcare for residents of Gran Alacant by providing larger, more modern facilities capable of meeting future demand. The project also reflects continued investment in public services as the area’s population continues to grow.