Yorkshire Synod Big Day Out 2025
The Yorkshire Synod Big Day Out this year took place at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park on 17th May. There were 150 tickets sold, with under 18s not needing a ticket. Janet and I arrived about 10.15, and the event was due to start at 10.30. On arrival we bumped in to many friends who we haven’t seen for some time as we always do at these events, and spent some time catching up with them! As the first Forest Church group started to make their way around the site (the first session was full soon after the earliest arrival time of 10am), and the family craft got underway, Janet and I made our way to the main field, where Dan Morell and Simon Copley were leading the sing along. The sing along took the shape of an A-Z of hymns. This first session covered the letters A to M. The singing was good though the numbers were few, as with so many activities going on at the same time, people were spread over a large area. A guided prayer walk was also available for people to go on whenever they liked, and the group had full access to the park. The normal entry price to the park is £11, so the ticket price to us of £5.50 gave great value.
At 12.00 the main entertainer came on stage. This was ‘The parable keeper’ performed by 4Front Theatre – a Christian Theatre Company. This was very entertaining and thought provoking, presenting well known parables in a very different way. This performance was an hour long, though the time went by so quickly it seemed much shorter.
At 1pm, the singalong started again, but Janet and I decided to take the prayer walk at this time, which referred to sculptures and gave thoughts to invoke prayer relating to each. We then returned for the end of the singing, in time to join the worship session which was led by Sarah Fitton who is the minster of the Huddersfield Pastorate. This was a great interactive worship session based on body, mind and soul. When this finished, Janet and I went for a wider exploration of the park, before heading home.
If you’ve never been to a Big Day Out, I thoroughly recommend joining them in the future. Whilst these always provide plenty entertainment for children and young people, there is plenty to keep people of all ages entertained, and plenty to help you improve your spiritual life too!
Alan Kendall
