As the work of dismantling displays at the Great Yorkshire Show begins, the team behind the Yorkshire Church on Show exhibition say that this year's pavilion displays have been a great success, atrracting hundreds of visitors each day, with many deep conversations during the three days of the Show.
This year the Great Yorkshire Show at the Harrogate showground attracted large crowds as the weather stayed fine and warm, and the success was reflected in the Yorkshire Church on Show pavilion, run by an ecumenical team from across the county.
With the theme of ‘Hide and Seek’ , there were several interactive displays on the themes of hope and hopelessness including a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle and innovative tunnel where words and pictures could be revealed by infrared torches carried by visitors. A reflective prayer pool gave space for quiet and volunteer stewards offered help and discussion.
The Design Team of six people is chaired by the Revd Maureen Browell, Vicar in West Barnsley (pictured above left with the Bishop of Whitby), who said that one of the great strengths of the pavilion was that it gave visitors the opportunity to come in from the crowds, pause and reflect.
Maureen said, “The thing that I’ve noticed this year more than any other year is the conversations, the depth of the conversations that have taken place and people really appreciating the move from hopelessness to hope which is effectively what it feels like. “
Each day a team of fifteen stewards, drawn from different churches across Yorkshire, have welcomed visitors, guided them around the displays and been on hand to have conversations about the themes. At the entrance activities included Mexican weaving and a guess the object display, attracting large numbers to put their hands into secret boxes to guess the contents.
“The displays are interactive at every level, physically as well as mentally” added Maureen. “It’s been very exciting- the public have found it exciting and I think the verdict is that ‘it’s been a cracker’”!
More about the Church on Show here http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/yorkshire-church-on-show