Keswick Convention – Your Questions Answered

The 2023 dates and Bible Readers are as follows:

Week 1: 15th – 21st July – Sam Alberry
Week 2: 22nd – 28th July – Jonathan Griffiths
Week 3: 29th July – 4th August – Ivor Poobalan

Keswick Convention takes place annually, bringing together thousands of like-minded Christians who want to hear God’s Word, become like God’s Son and serve God’s Mission.

There’s a wide programme of activities and events to get involved in and you can choose whatever you would like to attend. See the pages throughout this website to read about what’s on offer this year, what happened last year, how you can book accommodation, where to park and how you can get involved.

The first meeting is the Evening Celebration at 7.30pm on Saturday.
The Convention finishes after the Evening Celebration on Friday.

Keswick Convention is held on the Pencil Factory site in Keswick.

The address is:

There is no registration or booking needed to attend the adult programme. The 2023 Convention will run the same as 2022 and before.

Registration is needed to for those attending the Kids and Youth programme. More information will be available from Easter 2023. 

We are thankful that through the generosity of our supporters we are able to make the Convention available to all, without the need to charge for any events. This means everything is free, including the children’s and youth activities (apart from an occasional ticketed concert).

Of course, the budget is substantial. We estimate that if every adult attending for a week gave £120, Gift-Aided where possible, we would reach our budget. We recognise that some people can’t afford this much, whilst others may be able to give more. So during each week we provide opportunities for people to contribute as they feel able. 

We don’t keep a list of accommodation in Keswick; however we do have a shortlist of places to help you start your search on our Plan Your Visit page.

• Week 1 (15-21 July): Sam Alberry, Morning Bible Readings
• Week 2 (22 – 28 July): Jonathan Griffiths, Morning Bible Readings
• Week 3 (29 July – 4 Aug): Ivor Poobalan, Morning Bible Readings

Confirmed speakers and other programme information is available in our Convention section. This is updated as more information becomes available so please do keep checking these pages.

• Week One: EMU Music
• Week Two: Colin Webster and Phil Moore
• Week Three: Ben Slee

You can find more information about the Keswick for Kids and Keswick Youth programmes here: Children & Youth – Keswick Ministries

You can find this on the Pencil Factory site with TV relay. Open for morning Bible Readings, Evening Celebrations and the Keswick Lecture.

Parental supervision required at all times. Baby changing facilities available.

We respectfully ask that the crèche is only used for children under 3 years of age.

Keswick Ministries has been following government guidelines throughout the pandemic. As restrictions have now relaxed across the UK there will be no specific guidance on distancing or mask wearing at the Convention. However:

• If you’ve tested positive for Covid or are symptomatic, please stay away from the Convention site until you have a negative lateral flow test.
• Socially-distanced venues will be available in Keswick Methodist Church (all 3 weeks) and the Packing Hall overflow (weeks 1 and 2).
• Hand sanitisers will be present at venues.
• Venues will be well-ventilated.
• Bible Readings and Evening Celebrations will be live-streamed on Youtube, and the seminars will be available for online catch-up.
• Show kindness to those who are adopting a different approach to your own.

Adult, Children and Youth meetings will all be held on the combined sites of the Pencil Factory and Rawnsley. There is also a relay venue at Keswick Methodist Church.

Yes, there will be a Count Everyone In programme this year taking place in week 1 (15 – 21 July). It will be based in the Pencil Factory.

There are two allocated places for wheelchair users. One is inside the main tent next to door number 5. The other is outside the main tent in front of the Packing Hall (PH), on the opposite side to the water point.

Disabled Parking will be available on the Rawnsley site, on a first come first served basis for Blue Badge holders. Those with blue badges will be able to pick up a parking permit from Reception when you arrive on site. Due to us only having a very small staff team, we will not be able to post permits out.

There is no convention Parking on the Pencil Factory and Rawnsley site for the duration of the Convention. If you are driving into town, please use the existing town car parks.

If you are driving, we would encourage you to park at the Rugby Club ground or one of the other town car parks.

In the venues, all songs are projected onto screens and monitors. Large print and braille songbooks are available – please ask a member of the Welcome Team. For copyright reasons and for the benefit of others, these must be handed in at the end of each meeting.

A loop system operates in the three main venues and at the majority of the seminar venues. In the main venue, those wishing to benefit from the provision of BSL Interpreters can sit in the designated area in front of the platform.

For health and safety reasons, only assistance dogs are permitted on Keswick Convention sites and in meeting venues.

Yes you can, however bag searches take place on entry which may cause delay, so please consider what you bring onto site.

This year we will not be selling bottled water at the information desks but there will be a cafe onsite.

The Reception Office will be open every day in the Pencil Factory to answer any questions.

• If you’re arriving on a Saturday, the roads in and around Keswick will be busy, so please be patient! 
• Get acquainted with the town. There are two supermarkets, bakeries, take-aways and plenty of places to eat.