Between 26th June and 4th July, the Upper Holme Valley hosted the pioneering Festival of Faith, an initiative introduced to promote and explore faith, using popular culture to do so.
The event hosted many exciting activities including a Heavenly Bake Off (based on the popular TV programme), a performance by comedian Andy Kind and a Mr and Mrs quiz, along with family favourites including rounders and cricket and, to end the festival, a beautiful Songs of Praise performance in Christ Church, New Mill.
It was an ambitious plan, but one month on Revd. Canon Sean Robertshaw, Team Rector of the Upper Holme Valley Team Ministry, explains what they have learned.
He says, “The Anglican congregations of the Upper Holme Valley Team Ministry set out to share faith locally.
“The journey has been exciting, challenging, fruitful and rewarding. The events planning committee supported by the team parish helped deliver over twenty three different kinds of events.”
The image on the left shows the team of ministers, lay and ordained who have been central to the planning and running of this festival, including Rev Canon Sean Robertshaw (Team Rector), Rev Di Ellerton (Team Vicar), Rev Keith Griffin (Team Vicar), Rev Nick Heaton (Team Vicar), John Bullimore and Sue Thomson.
The image on the right shows Tom, Tom, Nikki, Charlie, Endre and Lee, six students in their first year of being formed for ordained ministry, who were living and working in the Holme Valley over the course of the festival, supporting the Festival of Faith by contributing to prayer, worship, chatting to people and maintaining a presence at events throughout the festival.?
Revd Sean Robertshaw mentions, “Arriving at the end of the first Festival of Faith in the Home Valley means we need to reflect upon all that has been good and all that has been shared.
“The friends we have made, the partnerships forged and the people we have met.
“We give thanks for those who specifically came to support the churches, and to promote faith.”
Below is the story of the Festival of Faith outlined in photographs taken by Revd Sean Robertshaw throughout the festival.
"Day 1 launch event: Bishop Jonathan encourages the people gathered to consider that at the heart of any message Christians may have to share ‘it is all about Jesus…’"
"Day 1: ‘Sing choirs of Angels sing in Choclatation!’ The heavenly bake off was a real hit at the festival."
"'And she’s buying the stairway to heaven!'"
Day 1: People enjoying the cake at the Heavenly Bake Off.
Day 1: People enjoying the cake at the Heavenly Bake Off.
"Day 1: The Festival Favourite being pumped out at the back of church to the worshippers and the inquisitive Jackie and Sean man the pumps!"
"Day 1: Enjoying the festival brew – brewed by the Nook Brewery, people begin to spill out of the church…."
"Day 1: A view from above Rev Nick Heaton and + Bishop Jonathan lead the opening prayers…"
"Day 2: Andy Kind comedian, one of the lager events we had to put more chairs out and do the miracle of multiplication for the supper!"
Day 2: The huge audience for Andy Kind.
Day 2 and 6: Walking in the outdoors during God in the Great Outdoors.
"Day 2 and 6: God in the Great Outdoors – walkers got out into the countryside to experience God in nature – or as was suggested by the leader Rev Keith Griffin – ‘The second book of God.’"
"Day 3: Sunday Lunch shared with the Mirfield Students, all of whom had preached earlier in the day, a well-earned moment."
"Day 4: All ages and sizes combined to have some old fashioned village fun."
"Day 4: It was all worth it – a relaxing beer or coke, with back slapping and smiles."
"Day 4: Cricket and Rounders - Brian prepares to feed the village who have turned up for the hotly contested Cricket match – “battle or baptism” The Rectors IX took the glory, so I guess its baptism!"
"Day 4: Poems and Pints at the Stumble Inn – local people brought their favourite poems, and pros, some home grown others from well know texts – a fascinating evening full of ideas and possibility, relax and listen or come and perform."
Daily prayers took place throughout the festival.
"Worship was led in the morning and in the evening each day by the Mirfield students throughout the festival – a time for quiet and reflection and contemplation."
“Day 6: One of the biggest events (more than 50 people present) was ‘Questions for God’ which took place in Brambles bar in Holmfirth. Here, people were asked ‘If you could ask God one question, what would it be.’ It was a fascinating evening of questions and ideas.”
"Day 7: 'Get up and Grow' building upon the New Mill community garden environmental artist Sarah Branson (on the only day it rained) demonstrates how to print patters in clay. It may have rained but it didn’t dampen our spirits.
Day 7: Families enjoyed the crafts at Get Up and Grow.
Day 7: Children loved Get Up and Grow!
"Day 8: Children’s Entertainer Paul Cookson went out and about in the local schools promoting faith poems and fun! Here he is pictured in Wooldale school where he performed a 40 min set which had everyone yelling for more!"
"Day 9: Children’s Entertainer Paul Cookson teaches an all age gathering through telling jokes, singing and playing songs and leading us in poems…"
"Day 10: Songs of Praise - Jim Morgan hosts a perfect end to the Festival as the host for a well supported Songs of Praise…."
Day 10: Congregation present at Songs of Praise.
All leaflets collected throughout the festival.
Revd Sean Robertshaw says, “The festival finished with this prayer of hospitality:
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting.
Amen.”
Revd Sean Robertshaw adds, “The Team Ministry entering its jubilee year in October has been ably supported by six students in training for ordained ministry in the Church of England.
“They have attended, spoken, prayed, met, reflected and grown with the local church throughout this last nine days, in that time they have helped keep a prayerful information hub open throughout the festival at Holy Trinity Church Holmfirth.”
To find out more about the Festival of Faith, visit their website: http://www.holmevalleyfestivaloffaith.org/
Alternatively, follow this link for the Diocese of West Yorkshire & The Dales Festival of Faith preview: http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/content/forget-glastonbury-hello-holme-valley-festival-faith