2021 Convention- Your questions answered

Yes, the summer Convention will be held over three weeks, between 17^th July and 6^th  August. We are looking forward to seeing you in Keswick and this year we’ll be on the new Pencil Factory site for the first time. We have a full programme of events though there will be some changes due to Covid-19. For instance, we plan to operate with three medium-size venues rather than one big marquee to provide more distanced seating arrangements. We have also made some changes to the Children’s and Youth programme. We’ll keep the situation under review and let you know of any further developments.

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.

We are planning to hold Morning Bible Readings, Seminars, Keswick Lectures and Evening Celebrations.

To create the distanced seating, as a Covid safeguard, we plan to have a main venue supported by a small number of relay venues.

The Morning Bible Readings, Evening Celebrations, and Keswick Lectures will be livestreamed and available for catch-up afterwards. The seminars will be available for catch up.

Due to the demands of Covid-19, we’ve had to make some changes to our usual Children’s and Youth programmes. The Children’s and Youth teams have developed an exciting programme which we hope all the children and youth will enjoy.

We’re holding a Families Together morning slot for children under the age of 11 and their families. This includes Bible teaching, songs, and activities around tables for families to enjoy.

The sessions replace the traditional Keswick4Kids morning programme and will take place during the morning seminar slot.

We are planning an all-age service for each Sunday of the Convention. Join us as all ages worship together.

In the mornings in all three weeks, there will be small-group Bible Studies, resources and teaching. Some of the wider Convention seminars will also be particularly relevant to youth.

We hope to be able to run evening celebrations in weeks 1 and 2. Week Three will feature live evening celebrations that will also be livestreamed so young people around the UK and further afield can join in and benefit.

We think the alternative programme is the best that can be delivered, given that plans for the summer need to be made now and that social distancing may still be required.

We are all conscious, with schools currently closed, that having 40-50 young children from all over the country in one room in July may be neither legal nor responsible. We wanted to plan for something now that has the greatest likelihood of success and the best way to bring young people the Gospel in this year’s circumstances. But we do recognise that many families value highly the kids and youth work at the Convention, alongside the Bible teaching, and we’re committed in future years, by God’s grace, to return to the previous model that has proved increasingly popular.

We’ll be following government guidance and best practice to ensure everyone is kept as safe as possible.

We are hopeful that some of the restrictions will have eased by the summer, but are mindful that other precautions will still need to be in place e.g. registration, social distancing and the use of the NHS app. So we are planning with caution, flexibility and optimism.

We’ll keep you updated on this page.

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. So everything is free, including the children’s and youth activities (apart from an occasional ticketed concert). Of course, the budget is substantial. But 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. 

Yes, we believe that we will need to introduce registration, and perhaps booking for individual sessions. We’ll keep you posted on what’s planned and what you need to do if you’re planning to join us in Keswick. Registration for children and youth is expected to operate in the usual way and to open from Easter.

• Week One (17- 23 July): Alistair Begg, Morning Bible Reader
• Week Two (24 – 30 July): Simon Manchester, Morning Bible Reader
• Week Three (31 July – 6 August): Mark Meynell, Morning Bible Reader

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 (17- 23 July): Colin Webster and Phil Moore
• Week Two (24 – 30 July): Ben Slee
• Week Three (31 July – 6 August): Olly Knight

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.

For the first time they will be held on the new combined site of the Pencil Factory and Rawnsley. Rather than one big marquee, we will be operating with three medium-size venues. There will also be relay venues around the town.

Parking around the Pencil Factory and Rawnsley site is limited to residents and their guests for the duration of the Convention. If you are driving into town, please use the existing town car parks or the Rugby Club car park. Tickets £4 per day.

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

The Reception Office, on ground floor of the newly refurbished Pencil Factory building, will be open every day to answer any questions.

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. Covid permitting, 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.

We usually do run a crèche – and are currently working on arrangements for this year and what will be possible. Watch this site for any updates.

• 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. 

• The first meeting is the Evening Celebration at 7.30pm on the Saturday.
• The Convention finishes after the Evening Celebration on the Friday of each week at 9pm.