Spring Harvest

Spring Harvest is an inter-denominational evangelical conference and gathering in the United Kingdom that started in 1979.[2]:245

Spring Harvest
Founded1979
FounderClive Calver, Peter Meadows
TypeCompany limited by guarantee
Location
Area served
UK
Key people
Rt Rev Pete Broadbent (Chair)
Rev Dr Ian White (Vice Chair)
Peter Martin (CEO)
Gavin Calver (Chair of the event planning group)
Revenue
£4,819,854 (2016)[1]
Employees
41 (2016)
Websitespringharvest.org

The festival arose in the late 1970s at a time when evangelicalism was growing in the UK and there was uncertainty as to how that movement would relate with Church of England and evangelicals within it; the event, among few others at the time, welcomed all evangelical Christians,[3]:292–293 including people within and outside the charismatic movement.[2]:245 Hylson-Smith comments that non-denominational activities such as Spring Harvest did much to encourage pan-evangelicalism which tended to minimise historical differences between denominations[2]:247

Its stated aims are to 'equip the Church for action' through a range of events, conferences, books and resources.[4] The tone is generally evangelical with modern worship music, workshops and Bible study groups.

History

The event was first held in 1979 for one week at Prestatyn, North Wales. In 1986 the event moved to Butlins Minehead and then in 1987 it moved to Skegness. Attendance passed the 50,000 mark in 1988 and the following year it was also held at Butlin's Ayr, Scotland.

By 2010 the event had been reduced by a week from the previous year, and the 2011 attendance was approximately 28,000 people[5] From 2012, there were three Minehead weeks and one Skegness week. From 2014 to 2017 the events continued to reduce in length. In 2018 Harrogate Convention Centre was first used as a venue.

Social campaigns

Spring Harvest is also involved in charitable work. These have included:

  • 1982: At the outbreak of the Falklands War, Spring Harvest sent a telegram to the Prime Minister expressing 'the love and concern felt by Christians for both governments and peoples involved.' £7,800 was collected and sent to the Church in Argentina.
  • 1988: A worship album was launched, with profits going to Christian projects involved in supporting those with HIV/AIDS. It went on to raise over £20,000.
  • 1991: £250,000 was given in voluntary offerings for a wide range of Christian work. £49,000 raised for a 'Greener Burkina' by the youth programme, was used to replant a forest and build a dam to alleviate drought conditions in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
  • 1994 Spring Harvest brought attention to the Yugoslav Wars by sending a film crew to Mostar - a UN designated War Zone.
  • 1999: Spring Harvest raises thousands of pounds to help the victims of brutality in the Kosovo War.
  • 2000: Spring Harvest launches Generation 2000+ at Minehead, the family week, in conjunction with Care for the Family and raises over £1 million for children worldwide through the 'remember me' project.

Media production and coverage

Recordings of parts of the event sometimes appears on British TV such as the BBC programme Songs of Praise.[6]

Most years CDs of associated songs are also published.

References
  1. Essential Christian Financial Statements y/e 2016-11-30
  2. Bebbington, David (1992). Evangelicalism in modern Britain : a history from the 1730s to the 1980s (Baker Book House ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House. ISBN 978-0801010286.
  3. Hylson-Smith, Kenneth (1989). Evangelicals in the Church of England : 1734-1984. Edinburgh: T.&T. Clark. ISBN 978-0567291615.
  4. Spring Harvest Web Site
  5. "Memralife Group Financial Statements (to 30 November 2011)". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "More hit by holiday camp virus". BBC News. 17 April 2003.
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