Merseyfest, the UK’s largest Christian youth initiative which took place in Liverpool from 14–21 August, was heralded a huge success by organisers, after a week of non-stop clean-up in some of the UK’s most underprivileged suburbs.
Merseyfest Chairman Phil Pawley said: “Merseyfest has been a brilliant week. A massive thank you to everyone who was involved in Merseyfest, and to all of our partners who helped make this event a massive success!”
The city’s Croxteth Park became a temporary home to the 2,000 delegates who camped for the week-long event, with a further 6,000 youngsters joining them in volunteer work such as litter picking, shore line clean up projects, and urban renewal projects like the refurbishment of the Millennium Green.
The event was partly sponsored by the diocese of Liverpool. The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev. James Jones, welcomed delegates at the start of the week saying, “Merseyfest is a great and inspiring example by young people of faith in action.”
Mr Pawley, in the Church of England newspaper, praised the work of the youth who took participated in the church-based initiative: “Merseyfest has been a vehicle for hundreds of churches across the region to engage in their communities through evangelism and social action and partnership with other parts of their communities including police, council and community residents, that will continue in the weeks and months ahead, long after Merseyfest is just a distant memory.”
Visitors and delegates to Merseyfest held a minute’s silence in remembrance of murdered teenager, Anthony Walker, who came from the Huyton area of Liverpool. The born-again Christian and member of Grace Family Church was signed up to participate in as a Merseyfest volunteer, where he was going to use his basketball skills with youths.
Merseyfest organisers called on youths and churches to continue the good work put into motion by the festival. A statement on their website said: “If we only see Merseyfest as a great event, we have missed what it is really about. Merseyfest is a catalyst for many local churches and communities to continue to be involved in regeneration across our region for the long-term.
“Our passion is to see this vision for transformation multiply across the region, and that this week of activity was the vehicle to start inspiring many about what can be achieved.”
According to police estimates, more than 25,000 people attended Mereyfest each day.
