The Diocese of Chester, together with other Church denominations from the region, worked together last weekend to bring 'We are The Church' to Creamfields, a massive dance festival that attracts around 80,000 people to the usually tranquil village of Daresbury.
Creamfields is the biggest dance festival of its type in the UK which takes place during the August Bank Holiday, from Thursday to Sunday, every year. The world's biggest and best-known DJs perform here to crowds of tens of thousands, across several stages across the vast site, which also includes designated camping areas for revellers who have the stamina and energy to stay for the duration of the event.
The increase in people coming into Creamfileds at Daresbury, effectively transformed Daresbury village, into the 115th largest town in the UK, albeit, just for the weekend.
With such huge numbers of people, it's easy to imagine that there will be some in need of help in some way or another. For some, it will be the first time they are away from home, others might be overwhelmed by the whole experience, and for some, the late nights, lack of sleep and perhaps a drink too many, can create a groundswell of emotions that can be difficult to contain. These are just some of the reasons why churches in the area, including The Church of England, The Methodist Church, The Baptist Church and Free Churches, come together each year to provide a place of refuge and comfort at Creamfields, called 'We are The Church'.
'We are the Church' have two tents at Creamfields, each providing seating, free biscuits and water, where people can come alone, or with their friends, to talk or sit in silence if that's what they want. To those who visit, it's an important and necessary part of the Creamfields experience. One party-goer from the Midlands said it was his second year visiting 'We are the Church' at Creamfields. "They look after you and they all help you out."
Providing the 'We are the Church' tents and service is only possible, thanks to a team of nearly 80 volunteers, who give their time in 8-hour shifts to ensure that the tent is available to visitors 24 hours each day, throughout the festival.
Archdeacon of Macclesfield, Ven Jane Proudfoot, has been the main driver behind the idea of 'We are the Church'. In the video below she gives a flavour of "Why we do what we do..."