Greenbelt 2026

A few Moravians have attended Greenbelt festival for a number of years now. This year’s was at Broughton House for the last time after being held there for twelve years. Next year 2027, is a fallow year as they search for a new home for this diverse, inclusive, faithfully active Christian festival. I’d strongly encourage and recommend that you explore some of the Greenbelt talks for the last two years which are free to access on their website: it will help to get a sense of the range of topics that are covered at the festival. Unfortunately, the worship and prayer sessions were not captured by podcast. If you fancy coming along in 2028, please speak to either myself, Sr Laura Wood, Sr Joy Raynor or Br James Woolford who have attended for many years now.

Below are a few written thoughts from myself, Sr Claire Maxwell (37 years old), as well as Br Edward Woolford (12 years old), Sr Phoebe Maxwell (7 years old) and Br Zachary Maxwell (5 years old) as to why Greenbelt is so special. I hope you enjoy reading our varied reflections.

A highlight for me each time I go is undoubtedly the Communion Worship on the Sunday morning. Worshipping with tens of thousands at Communion is always incredible and moving – every year I end up in tears by the beauty of sharing worship with tens of thousands of us. It’s the closest moment to the feeding of the 5,000 for me as we all get to eat and share communion together. This year a particular blessing was sharing it unexpectedly with a family who had come from Italy as ‘they just loved it’. The worship is always varied and this year it felt particularly restful.

There were so many thoughtful talks (many of which I didn’t make due to doing Greenbelt as a family). However, the ones I heard challenged me. They made me wonder about the climate and the wisdom of different generations. I contemplated if actually we were getting church wrong for many people as I heard about new expressions of church that seemed to be full of joy.

Musically I loved Martyn Joseph in the rain. It required a hot chocolate afterwards, but his singing live is really something else and his songs are as thoughtful as ever. The show that left a lasting impression on me was called ‘God is a Woman’. It was a comedy that stretched the mind helpfully and definitely tickled the funny bone despite Louisa Omielan performing with a concussion injury. Please check her out as she is a classically struggling artist whose voice has much to offer.

The talks I truly treasured though happened in the unprogrammed moments. The ones between old friends who offered ongoing prayer after we had met in a queue. The quick hellos from people I’ve worked or studied with in the past. The overdue catchups which turned into theological reflections on how to do church for each generation, to truly honour the variety of needs. The reflections around our camp who had such a welcoming group of people (and endorsed all the excitement that a seven- and a five-year-old brings).

Greenbelt reminds me each time that God is out there. The camping side helps to ground us to a God whose creation is the first home. The spoken word prayers, stories and reflections eventually might become a book but may not.

It was spiritually refreshing and grounding, which calls me back to my roots. I can’t wait for its return in 2028, and I’m determined to build in some Greenbelt spirituality into my own each week.

This year I attended my second Greenbelt festival at Boughton House where it was held for the last time until it moves to a new location in 2028. I enjoy Greenbelt because I like the music there and also meeting new people and seeing people from previous years. We stayed in a tent with my Dad, Rev James Woolford, next to Rev Claire Maxwell and her family. My highlights were: the Proclaimers, Charlotte Church who led us in a singing circle which was a great experience and Arrested Development, a 1990s hip-hop band were super. I also enjoyed watching a show called ‘Sorry (I broke your arms and legs)’ which was a one man show about a year eight school boy trying to apologise to a friend after a falling out over who would be the school’s head boy that ended up with his friend breaking his arms and legs. It was really funny.

One of the things that was a challenge was the rain and the MUD because the accessibility was horrific. Mobility scooters just sank in the mud, and we skidded and slipped along the way. We didn’t let it stop us from having a good time though. It also didn’t help that we discovered that our tent wasn’t completely waterproof. At least it only leaked on my dad’s side though.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend Greenbelt to anyone, young or old when it returns in 2028.

I loved the skatepark. I really enjoyed who we camped with as it included my Auntie Lol and meant I got to sleep in a big tent with all my family. I really liked the acrobatics and Balloon show where the man ended up in a Giant Balloon!

Fischy music was really fun with some good songs. I got the chance to do some dancing with their songs. There was, also, a sports field where I got to play lots of different sports whenever I wanted. I really enjoyed making my own game in the craft tent. The craft tent had lots of fun activities. I got to make a Greenbelt friend I could take home there which was brilliant.

I loved sleeping in a tent. I had a go at circus skills which was good but hard. I got very muddy which was lots of fun!