Faith, Fun & Festival Vibes
This summer, around 65 people from Ashtead Parish headed to the New Wine Festival for a week of worship, camping and connection—and it was unforgettable.
Pitching tents, parking campers and caravans or opting for a more comfortable stay offsite - the group shared meals, soaked up the sunshine and enjoyed all the festival had to offer. “The friendships you make at New Wine in just five days are like those you find after two years of coming to church,” said Jaynie Kendall, our 0–18s Leader.
One of the big themes this year was the “Quiet Revival”—a call to empower Generation Z in the church. Our youth stepped up in amazing ways. “Watching them pray together and be fully present was powerful,” said Youth Leader Ben Andrews. “Some even prayed out loud for strangers—which was pretty unheard of before!”
Gwynneth & John Cooper opted to stay off-site at more comfortable accommodation. “The SGSG campers were great at welcoming and including we offsite rootless waifs, so we had a base for use between the huge variety of stuff that was on offer.” Explained John and Gwynneth, “It was inspiring and challenging to see how God is using all ages locally, nationally and internationally to grow the Kingdom.”
Parents had their own special moments too. Jaynie shared how meaningful it was for parents to spend time in worship with their child and have space to reflect personally: “I love the fact that I know they will be spiritually fed, and will take something away that will affect the rest of their lives.”
And who could forget the sound of 500 kids singing, “Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me”? As Jaynie put it: “Wow. You just know God’s doing something in their little lives.”
New Wine isn’t just a festival—it’s a chance to grow in faith, build real friendships and experience God in powerful ways. Whether you’re new to church or have been coming for years, there’s something for everyone. Come camp with us, worship with us and be part of something truly special. We’d love to have you with us next year! 2026 dates have already been announced and tickets are available at Early Bird discounted prices now. Click HERE for more details. Below is what a few of this years visitors had to say about the 2025 event…