THE Big Tent holiday club was back in Wellington last week in a large marquee at Wellesley Park Primary School sports field.
The town’s churches ran the event for children of primary school age on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
This year’s theme was ‘Space Academy’ and 95 children joined the Starship Crew each day as they travelled through space to share the ‘goodness, kindness, generosity, honesty and mercy of Mission Command’.
Each day ran from 10am until 3pm with an action-packed programme of games, competitions, songs, videos, craft activities and Bible stories, using the 30-metre Big Tent and the excellent outdoor space at Wellesley Park to the full.
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A team of more than 20 volunteers from local churches ran the programme led by Church of England youth worker Andy Levett, who was joined on stage by Court Fields students Isaac Jones, Micaela Sellick and Andrew Power, with ‘DJ’ Dan Thorne in control of the audio/visuals.
New to The Big Tent this year was the ‘Tea Tent’ open on site each day after drop-off and before pick-up for parents and younger siblings to enjoy a drink and a cake with space to chat and toys to play with. Team missioner Selina Garner and an enthusiastic band of helpers hosted this popular addition to the event.
Revd Sam Griffiths, Pastor of Wellington Baptist Church and Big Tent co-ordinator, said: “I’d like to give a massive thanks to our superb team of volunteers who gave 100 per cent and were simply the best. And a special thanks to our upfront team led by Andy Levett.
“We had the largest number of children we’ve had in recent years and their enthusiasm and energy just made for a very special year. And a big thanks to the churches of Wellington who supported, gave and prayed, and to the community of Wellington, to Wellesley Park Primary School for hosting us, and to Wellington Town Council for giving us a grant to help make this happen.”
The Big Tent is supported by Wellington Churches Together, made up of the following church groups and denominations: Methodist, Church of England, Baptist, Roman Catholic, United Reformed, Living Light, Life Central, Rockwell Green Christian Fellowship.