Greenbelt Festival 2025 – Somewhere to believe in

This summer was the first time after a few years that we returned as a family to the Greenbelt Festival. We were excited to return to Broughton House, especially as our two children, Phoebe and Zachary, were very little the last time they had been there. Greenbelt Festival is described as a place where artistry meets activism with faith central to that identity. This year was the first experience where we knew as parents that our time wouldn’t be (majorly) spent listening to talks, but would be more focused on the children’s activities, with the occasional catch up with friends and deep, soul-filling conversations. Despite this radical difference in our approach to Greenbelt, it really did finish off our summer together with joy, love and hope, and re-energised both myself and Steve in our Christian faith.

A highlight for me this year at Greenbelt included Holy Communion that occurs on the Sunday. At this service, you gather around a central stage with thousands of others. Together you worship God through music, poetry, and the wisdom of the Bible. This year, it was led by one of the first female priests to be ordained in the Church of England. She had spent the last few months campaigning against Gaza and was, on her return home, expecting to be arrested. She reminded us of our call as Christians to always look out for the least and to follow Jesus in his confidence in speaking out in places where we see wrong happening towards those who are most vulnerable. It was a really powerful testimony, which, when matched with a variety of traditional and modern music, became a really powerful service to be a part of, and has left a long-lasting impression on myself and Steve as to how to create organic, authentic worship spaces.

The Greenbelt volunteers are incredible. They come ahead of the festival to set everything up and stay afterwards to also take it all down, as well as helping throughout the actual festival! Once you go with children, you realise how important those volunteers are: to be the spare hands that wrap knitting around cardboard or help your child build that den that involves carrying over large poles of bamboo. Activities we really enjoyed as a family were making dens, having a go at circus skills, and lots of activities in the ‘Make and Create Tent’ which included making clocks and mirrors out of records. We, also, learnt about looking after the bees through a really interactive and engaging puppet show and song – linking together God’s care for creation with our own responsibility.

The gymnastics group were called ‘Henge’. They led an incredible routine of moving the ‘stones’, balancing on each other, jumping off each other and creating completely different shapes and movements all set to music. It truly was an all-age activity of drama, movement, and skill and our two left us to sit on the front row with friends.

Most evenings at Greenbelt, we took our children down in the trolley, well wrapped up with their little pocket money purchased finger-lights, to enjoy some of the music. This allowed their parents to enjoy a good beer or two at the Jesus Arms with the friends that we were camping alongside.

Amidst all the family activities, I heard a couple of talks over the weekend – one that has stuck with me was an interview with Patrick Grant from The Sewing Bee. He talked about our calling and responsibility to look at how clothing was made, where it was made, how it was produced, and who was involved in that labour. He gave a really interesting insight into the fact that most clothing produced and sold in the United Kingdom, even if it appears plastic-free, would still involve the hem being sewn with a thread which includes some plastic material. His talk has really inspired me to think carefully about what I buy when I’m not purchasing second hand. He gave strong encouragement to go and return to tailor shops, where possible, as tailors typically do know the origin of their cloth.

Finally, a big plus of Greenbelt for me are the conversations that you do not expect to have. For me, these range from people I’d never met before (who at events we sat next to each other and just started chatting) to people I’ve met and known for over a decade but haven’t perhaps seen for a long time. It was this opportunity to connect and talk together about our faith, work, and (and in some cases) ministries which was wonderful. I truly recommend Greenbelt as a safe space to explore how your faith is lived out in the world, as well as an opportunity to meet other deeply curious faith seekers who are trying their best to live authentically in a world where operating from a place of faith is perhaps not always recognised or understood by most people.

Sr Claire Maxwell

Minister of Horton and Lower Wyke Moravian Congregations