Today one of the UK’s largest Christian events have announced that they are the latest to decide that it is not feasible to run. Many festivals and Bible weeks such as Newday have already made this decision. Twenty Twenty may have passed, but the risk of Coronavirus has not. Until large numbers of people are vaccinated it looks like restrictions in some form are here to stay.
It was a joy to be able to interview an old friend who now heads up Spring Harvest, Phil Loose:
The press release from the Spring Harvest organisation follows, but here is a taster of last years online event:
Find out more about Spring Harvest Home
SPRING HARVEST’S “TOUGH DECISION” BIG PLANS FOR ONLINE EVENT
Having carefully reviewed the situation with their colleagues at Butlin’s, Spring Harvest has announced “the tough decision not to proceed” with its 2021 events at Minehead and Skegness. It will now focus on its planned online event.
“We remain confident in Butlin’s ability to deliver safe and secure holidays,” said Essential Christian CEO Phil Loose “This decision hasn’t been made lightly and is due to the unique and complex nature of the live event with its massive volunteer team, huge children’s programme and large additional infrastructure.”
Spring Harvest are already talking with Butlin’s about the 2022 events and promise more news “as soon as we can”. Meanwhile Spring Harvest Home 2021, the online event which has already been months in the planning, will be a livestreamed event that’s “bolder and better than ever before”.
In a reference to the event’s worship theme, Phil Loose told guests and partners “We want to thank you for your prayers and your patience during recent weeks in particular. We now look forward to welcoming you to Spring Harvest starting Easter Sunday evening as we worship, learn, laugh and take time to reflect together on a challenging year; celebrating the Unrivalled God.”
Detailed information about Spring Harvest Home 2021 will be available soon.
Ends
For more information, interviews or comment please contact Esther Jolliffe at Jersey Road PR. e: esther@jerseyroadpr.com
NOTES TO EDITOR
About Spring Harvest
Spring Harvest aims to create space for all people to encounter God, to be confident in their faith and to see transformation in lives and communities. It’s an event where everyone is valued and cared for, and where the church is supported and resourced. This with the aim that we go ready and able to serve others, at home and around the world, in the name of Jesus.
FAQ’s on 2021
What happens now? Information for guests with bookings.
- Transactions and bookings for Spring Harvest Minehead and Skegness are made with Butlin’s. Guests will receive a full refund automatically within the next 28 days. Butlin’s will email guests directly.
- Essential Christian team members are contacting exhibitors, suppliers, contractors and key team members to discuss how they will be affected.
The relationship between Butlin’s and Spring Harvest remains strong
In the long term, we are totally committed to our live events hosted at the superb Butlins resorts at Minehead and Skegness. Butlin’s have implemented hygiene measures with professionalism and skill. We have learnt a great deal from their innovation – including the use of an App to pre-book seats in venues, the reduction of movement by providing table service, and a host of other measures including comprehensive staff training.
Butlin’s spokesperson Richard Hickson added “For over forty years Butlin’s resorts have hosted Spring Harvest’s remarkable events. We are proud to be Spring Harvest’s first-choice location and we look forward to partnering with them again in 2022 at Minehead and Skegness.”
What is Spring Harvest Home?
Our long-planned online event won’t simply be a series of YouTube broadcasts. “We’ll be taking online Christian events to a new level, showcasing new technology and creating a brilliant interactive experience for all the family” says Phil Loose, CEO of Essential Christian.
“We passionately believe that the Unrivalled theme is vital, relevant and prophetic. So we’re encouraging everyone to join us online in the week after Easter for live worship, quality Bible teaching, amazing kids and all-age activities and plenty more besides” says Spring Harvest Event Director Abby Guinness.
Detailed information will be available soon.
Why is Spring Harvest at Butlin’s not going ahead?
Spring Harvest’s live event is unique and complex.
- Vital team members must travel from all over the UK and beyond. This makes us vulnerable to regional lockdowns.
- Each year we need to recruit over one thousand team members from a spectrum of age groups and locations. We need to be confident that sufficient people will be prepared to volunteer and will be able to attend the event.
- We believe it would be unwise to commit significant sums of money to overcome the challenges in delivering our intensive on-site programme under the anticipated government guidelines.
As a charity we must manage our finances responsibly, and so this decision is being taken in order help preserve the long-term future of Spring Harvest by wisely minimising any losses.
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