Yadah Christian Events Network

Following on from the launch of The BigChurchDayOut in2009, Darren Mangold talks with the organiser Tim Jupp, to see what's in storefor 2010....

Tim, for the benefit of those that haven't yet heard ofTheBigChurchDayOut, what's it all about?

The BigChurchDayOut is an all-age day of celebration for the wholechurch. It's a chance for us to come together, encourage each other, andappreciate that we are all part of something much larger then our own localsituation. 

How did the idea of The BigChurchDayOut comearound?

Having travelled the world for many years with Delirious? and havingbeen involved with many large gatherings of the church across the world, I wasinspired at the idea of doing something on a big scale here in the UK. 

What can people expect to see and do?

The main focus of the day is celebration. We have an amazing line-upof some of the most talented and well known worship leaders and artists in theworld today. There's also different stages reflecting different musical stylesand lots of activities and fun for all ages. 

Is the itinery and band performances the same for eachday?

The BigChurchDayOut is a one-day event. The programme is the same eachday and all artists are performing every day.

Your not only making The BigChurchDayOut a two day event on the bank holiday weekend of May 30th and 31st, but your alsohosting for the first time a The BigChurchDayOut in the midlands onMay 29th, why did you decide to roll out the event further a field?

In our first year in 2009, people travelled from all over the UK tocome to the event. Shortly after the 2009 event, I received a phone call fromthe owner of a large stately home in the Midlands who had heard what had goneon in Sussex. We got together and one thing led to another, and I'm reallyexcited that this year we have the amazing opportunity also bring the event toanother part of the UK.

And where are the venues and why did you choose those locations?

Wiston House, is in a beautiful location in West Sussex, and Stanford Hallis just 10 minutes from Loughborough in the East Midlands.The atmosphere of theBigChurchDayOut is very much one big picnic in the park and the locations ofcountry estates really add to this sense of having a day out together.

Is it a ticket only event or can people pay on the gate?

The event is ticketed and all information can be found at our website www.bigchurchdayout.com tickets will be available on the gate if we still have some left!!

What motivates you to see a project of this scale through?

I'm excited by the chance many people in the Church will have toexperience a much larger dynamic of worshipping together than most would haveon the average Sunday! I'm also excited by creating an opportunity to showothers outside the church that we are very much alive and well, and perhaps notso much in decline as we so often read about in the press etc.

The launch of TheBigChurchDayOut last year was aresounding sucess, what with sellout tickets and smiles all round! how wouldyou sum up the feedback you had from the people that day?

We had some amazing feedback from our first year, and understandably afew grumbles too because of the traffic problems we had in Sussex, which wehave been able to solve for 2010. People loved the atmosphere, loved therelaxed feel to the day, and were blown away by the quality of the music andthe surroundings that they found themselves in. 

It's worth mentioning that the weather last year on theday was just perfect for such an event!, was that a specific answer to prayer,and do you have the same 'on order' for this year?

The weather has been on order for some time! 

If we're blessed with rain this year do you have acontingency or do we simply bring along the 'wellies'?

Bring the wellies, bring an umbrella, and come with a huge smile onyour face!

How do you see the TheBigChurchDayOut developing?

We're not too sure yet, but this feels like the beginning of a veryexciting journey. 

What do you hope people will take away from thisyears The BigChurchDayOut?

An even bigger smile than the one they came with! Some new friends,and a sense of the presence of God.