Dozens of Anglican churches from the dioceses of York and Durham are supporting Festival Teesside, a free festival of music, faith and service based in Stewart Park, Middlesbrough on 8th-9th June 2024.
The largest Christian event on the Tees Valley for over a decade, the festival is a partnership of churches from a wide range of denominations and the Palau Association, which for over 60 years has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with more than one billion people throughout the world through the ministry of its founder, Luis Palau (1934-2021).
Palau has run festivals like this across the world, and knows the north of England well, since one of their most recent festivals was in Manchester. You can find out more about the event here: Festival Teesside and it’s not too late to get involved. All parishes near the Tees Valley can sign up as partner churches.
The heart of the festival is a two day free music festival in Stewart Park, Middlesbrough. As well as offering high quality entertainment, there is a culturally sensitive gospel message. Prior to the festival there will be a month of community service, touching many at the margins of society. At a similar festival in Manchester in 2022 over 3000 people made a commitment to follow Jesus. There’s more about the impact of Festival Manchester here: Press – Festival Manchester.
All churches and individuals can attend Festival Teesside – and churches which become festival partners can also offer follow-up to those who make a commitment. David Goodhew, vicar of St Barnabas, Linthorpe, commented: ‘I’d encourage every Anglican church on the Tees Valley to become a partner of Festival Teesside. This is the largest opportunity to share the good news of Jesus we’ll have for decades. And, my goodness, do people need to hear that good news in these times!’
