Forty volunteers from churches across the diocese met last night for prayer and pizza as they prepare to join festival goers at Leeds Fest today as the gates open for the Bank Holiday music festival.
The volunteers– from all over the Diocese of Leeds – were setting up on site at Bramham Park yesterday making sure they have everything they need to be the Festival Angels for this weekend.
Originally a Thorner Churches Together iniative, the ecumenical group now comes under the CNI initiative and have been offering support, prayer and practical help to festival goers since 2011.
The Festival Angels run a prayer cafe – providing a safe space at the festival site where festival goers can buy a £5 mug with unlimited refills of tea and coffee, they run the lost property, have detached teams offering practical help and support across the site as well as prayer and help people discover more about the Christian faith.
The Vicar of Thorner and coordinator of Festival Angels, the Revd Andy Nicholson said: “This is the sixth year and every year our Festival Angels go from strength to strength, walking alongside young peole and breaking down some of the barriers they may have about the church and the Christian Faith.
“It is a privilege to be able to serve some of the 85,000 people who become part of our neighbourhood if only for this weekend."
More information is at www.leedsfestivalangels.org.uk with updates and pictures throughout the weekend posted at www.facebook.com/festivalangels and www.twitter.com/festivalangels