Big celebration of the Christian faith in Leamington park

The party-style event on Sunday, May 31, in the Pump Room Gardens, starts at 11am with a united service, using the bandstand as a stage.

And then the folding chairs and blankets will be unpacked for a social gathering and a picnic in the park – and if rain stops pray and play, nearby All Saints’ church will be used.

There will also be stands explaining the work of Church initiatives in Leamington, including Street Pastors, Nightlight, Nightshelter and the Homeless Action Project.

Denominations from across Leamington taking part include Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed, Evangelical and the Salvation Army.

The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, and the Most Rev William Kenney, the Warwickshire area bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, will be there to help launch the HOPE15 Festival Week.

It will see 20 Leamington churches uniting under the HOPE15 banner to put on a wide variety of events, designed to make it easy for anyone wanting to explore Christianity to “dip their toe in the water”, said the Rev Jonathan Jee, Vicar of St Paul’s.

He added: “While all our churches have different styles, we are united in believing that we have good news – the Gospel – to share. Come on down and have a look – you’ve got nothing to lose.

“In the past churches have done their own thing, but to have 20 churches in the same town united to do the same stuff is quite significant.”

Events for the week include comedy and quiz nights, lunchtime concerts, an acoustic evening at Bar8, “Popcorn, Puppets & Pizza”, healing and men’s and women’s events

For specific youth events go to www.borntothrive.org.uk and for more of the programme go to www.hopeleamington.org.uk or go to individual church websites.