Diocese of Chichester

At the end of May, over 400 people were camped at Plumpton Racecourse for Maycamp 2023. The theme this year was Unity, being part of the Maycamp family. This was felt strongly this year, through the worship, talks, and general atmosphere across the site. Even the security company commented on how much they felt included!

As we looked at Unity, we looked at how it related to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the Church, and the world. Encouraging everyone that they had a relationship with each of these, and free access to belong to the family.

In each main session, we had time to respond and reflect on what we had heard and encountered. These times were so precious and sacred as young people and their leaders came forward for prayer and conversations, encouragement, and time in the presence of God at the foot of the cross. We saw at least 15 people make a first-time commitment to Jesus and others renew their relationship with him. There was laughter and tears as people went deeper into their journey of faith.

Watch the video here:

The weather was so kind to us this year and so we had plenty of time outside with all the activities across the site. Bellringing, archery, bike maintenance (with +Will), inflatables, football, and volleyball to name a few. And of course, the usual mayhem and sugar of the café, with games such as ‘eat it or wear it’, the talent show and a huge range of minute-to-win-it games, and on Sunday night a Hawaiian-themed disco.

Thank you to everyone who came and took part, from the young people and the youth leaders,to  the supports teams, especially the diocesan leadership team for their energy and enthusiasm.

Building Excitement!

For 2024 we want to invite everyone to come along to Maycamp. Every young person is required to come along with their youth leader/vicar/youth volunteer team. It is for year 6 – year 13 so now your year 5’s can start to get excited in the lead-up to next year.

New for Maycamp 2024 will be a student’s stream for 16 – 25-year-olds. They can come and serve on team with us but also have some input just for them during our seminar time. The rest of the time they get the opportunity to flex their serving, ministry muscles.

If you have any young people in your church family, get in touch! We can link you with local groups who have been coming to Maycamp who can give you advice or invite you into their group. We would love to welcome you to our family.

Mini Maycamp is a taster/reunion for Maycamp. It is Friday, November 17th 2023 at St Andrew’s Church Burgess Hill for just 2 hours, 6.30pm – 8.30pm and is just £2 per person. Do get in touch if you would like to come along and see what it is all about.

We’re also grateful to Benefact Trust for helping to support Maycamp this year

Too old to be a young person at Maycamp? Love the idea of serving the next generation as they walk towards leadership? Then please consider coming on team. You do not have to be there the whole weekend or even sleep in a tent. However, you miss out on the late-night fun if you don’t! Honestly though, we are keen to grow our team as we grow the event, so do get in touch if you feel like you would like to come and have a chat about what you could do.

Really not sure you can commit. How about prayer? Could you commit to pray for Maycamp, our team and young people who come each year. It is amazing the power of prayer over the event, and we are learning each year how important it is.

Would you like to give financially? We have something called Maycamp Angels. This is where you can donate the cost of a ticket or more to the event. We then can offer that money to groups in deprived areas of our diocese and help towards the cost of them coming along. A lot of groups fundraise throughout the year to make sure they can bring everyone along and feed them for the weekend. Every little helps, as we encourage this next generation to walk a life with Jesus and not give up.

Contact us on youth@chichester.anglican.org

In their words - Some of our young Maycampers and youth leaders have shared a little about the Maycamp experience: 

Maycamp is a life changing event for our young people.

It helps to build a closer relationship with our youth.

Do not ever forget the impact Maycamp has on our young people, year after year they keep coming back.

We had 7, and counting, people make a commitment to Jesus, most of these young people are unchurched but have been coming along to our youth club for years.

Maycamp has been great to connect with other young people in the area and we know we are not alone as a small youth group.

We have loved camping near people who actually live fairly close to us. Who knows what we might do together in the future.

It is great to find the small moments to chat with other youth group leaders and just see church in a bigger context.

Having young people lead from the front inspires our young people to keep going.

Danni Taylor is the Interim Youth Officer for the Diocese of Chichester

With grateful thanks to Benefact Trust for helping to support Maycamp this year.