It’s a warm late afternoon in the Santa Eulalia countryside as I arrive at Alanna Thomson’s house. Inside her sun-drenched home, her daughter Bella plays in the garden while her husband Marcello takes a telephone booking for his alter ego – children’s entertainer Cachirulo the Clown. Their dog Henry nudges for attention, everything is calm. Come Sunday, however, things look a little different for the family because Alanna is part of the leadership team at Ibiza Lighthouse Church, one of only two English-speaking congregations on the island, established in 2024. Each week, worshippers born as far afield as Uruguay, the Netherlands and the United States gather here – drawn by something quieter, and perhaps harder to find, in Ibiza.
“I used to say I was the only Christian on the island,” says Alanna. “Growing up here could feel quite lonely at times.” Raised within the hippy-rooted Morna School community in Sant Carles, she often felt out of step with Ibiza’s more hedonistic side – something that never really interested her. For years, the Anglican church in San Rafael provided a sense of belonging. “It’s been part of the island for decades, and it’s been amazing,” she says. “But over time, I felt the need for something different. Ibiza has changed – and the church needed to change with it.”
The music producer Enoch and the married couple Marcelo and Verónica, members of Lighthouse Church.
She pauses. “We love Jesus and want him to be glorified, but the traditional ways weren’t connecting anymore. Lighthouse is, quite simply, a new expression of the body of Christ – one that feels authentic to Ibiza and its multicultural community.”
So, what sets this church apart? Step through its doors on a Sunday and the first thing you notice is the sheer excitement, colour and happiness all around. Familiar faces are scattered in the throng, the smell of fresh coffee and cake fill the air, some people are painting, others dancing, pet dogs play freely – and children are obviously not just welcome here – they’re embraced.
“Our ministry is centred on guiding children to Jesus,” says Annie Marie Duperpuzel, who leads the church’s Messy Kids Club. “Not just through storytelling or Bible study, but through project-based learning that builds practical skills and encourages creativity.” The aim, she explains, is to make faith something lived rather than simply taught. “We want the process of learning and connection to feel joyful. Lighthouse is a family church with a big heart – children aren’t a side project here, they’re the focus.”
Each week brings something new, often shaped by the Fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And, true to its Ibiza setting, music plays a central role, with live singers, musicians and contemporary Christian anthems forming part of the service.
“Lighthouse Ibiza is genuine, raw – exactly the kind of community God loves,” says Enoch, a music producer from Los Angeles who now calls the island home. “We’re not perfect people, but we point to the one who is. And His name is Jesus.”
Lighthouse is a family-oriented church with a deep sense of community where faith is lived joyfully. Children are not only welcome, but embraced with open arms. Above, Alanna Thomson.
For Enoch, the church is about more than Sunday worship. “It’s a real community where you can come as you are – learn, be prayed for, and find support. People come with all kinds of struggles, and many leave feeling lighter, freer. That’s the power of faith here.”
Alongside Alanna, the core leadership team includes husband-and-wife duo Marcelo Echeverria Peña and Veronica Amigo Amigo, as well as Julia Moore and Nathalie Parrott. Originally from Chile, Marcelo and Vicky lead Business With A Mission, a movement aligned with Lighthouse that seeks to integrate faith and the world of business. “We train people to live out their calling through business, guided by biblical values, principles and models,” they explain. Their connection to Lighthouse came organically through a friendship with Alanna, and what began as occasional collaboration – alongside other local churches – soon grew into something deeper.
“We realised we shared the same vision: to have a meaningful, lasting impact on Ibiza society through an authentic and transformative message.”
Music plays an essential role in every Sunday service at Lighthouse Church, with live singing and contemporary Christian hymns.
Just as important is the sense of community. “We’re not a traditional institution, but a family living out faith in everyday life,” he says. “Ibiza is often seen as a place of freedom – parties, music, excess – but many still feel empty. We don’t judge that search; we walk alongside it. Here, people are welcomed as they are, and introduced to something deeper, more lasting.” Supporting 24/7 Ibiza with their food bank work, plus baptisms, prayer walks, women’s beach picnic & prayer evenings – and involvement in September’s brilliant Christian Rave, it’s evident that Ibiza Lighthouse is a church for modern times.
“A lot of people come to Ibiza searching – for meaning, for escape, for something more. But many still feel empty,” says Alanna. “When people encounter Jesus and the Holy Spirit, something shifts. There’s purpose again. Freedom. Joy. And there’s peace.”
