The Big Tent
Mission Accomplished

An amazing week of spy kids’ investigation with a whole lot of fun, laughter and games thrown in - all in a huge marquee on Wellesley Park Primary School field - was the summary of the last week in August in Wellington.

One hundred children had booked in for this 3 day experience, and they were not disappointed! Even the weather was kind, and the full breadth of the school’s playing field was used for open air games, obstacle courses, and hunting of the lost spy. On Day 3, the entire event was rounded up with a review, BBQ and bouncy castle for over 250 people as the rest of family came to find out what it was all about.

The theme of “Spy Kids” explored the spies of the Old Testament of the Bible, and 4 teams competed against each other – Detectives, Investigators, Special Agents and Code Breakers.

The Big Tent is the project of Wellington & District Churches Together and over 40 helpers from local churches gave their time and skills to make it all happen, expressing the Christian unity across the churches. The project received sponsorship from the Bath & Wells Diocese Youth & Children’s Development Fund as well as The Baptist Union of Great Britain Home Mission Fund, The South Western Synod of the United Reformed Church, plus local businesses Swallowfield, Redhill Farm Apple Juice, Green & Carter Ltd, Waitrose and the churches of Wellington & District.

Plans are already being made for an even bigger and better event next year, though the high standards of fun and enjoyment will be hard to beat!

Andy Levett, youth & children’s worker for Tone Deanery, said, “This was a very exciting project from the outset – a dream really – which a group of us have been working on since November last year. When the tent actually went up and then the children packed it out on the first morning it suddenly got a whole lot more exciting!”  
“As well as a big thank you all the church volunteers who gave their time and skills to make it all happen, we want to thank all those in the wider church families who invited neighbours and most importanly prayed for the event. Having that support is invaluable and as we look ahead to The Big Tent 2012 we want to encourage local churches to carry on praying for the children and families who live in Wellington and the surrounding area.”  

The Big Tent Team

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