US speakers emerge at Greenbelt
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The American gospel singer Mavis Staples was the final act on the Greenbelt Mainstage on Monday evening, closing a line-up that the festival’s director, Paul Northup, described as “the strongest . . . for years”.
Other musical highlights at the 38th Greenbelt festival, which took place over the Bank Holiday weekend at Cheltenham Race Course, included the folk singer Kate Rusby; the Canadian singer-songwriter, Ron Sexsmith; and the Scottish rock band Idlewild.
The speaker line-up included big names from the Emerging Church movement, including Rob Bell (Features, 5 August), Brian McLaren, Dr Phyllis Tickle, and Dr Pete Rollins. Figures from the world of politics also made appearances: the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander, introduced Richard Wilkinson, author of the influential book The Spirit Level; the first woman Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, spoke on her experiences of political life; and Billy Bragg, the songwriter and activist, spoke and sang.
The Revd Nadia Bolz-Weber, a stand-up comic turned Lutheran pastor, preached at the Sunday-morning eucharist (above), where worshippers donated more than £46,000 for Trust Greenbelt, a project that supports arts, faith, and justice projects in the UK.
Andy Turner, chairman of the Greenbelt trustees, said that the festival had been “a potent combination of faith, creative art, and social justice — bringing the best and brightest minds”.
Mr Northup described the event as “rich with highlights, delights, and surprises”.
The new approach for children — incorporating children’s events into the main programme, in place of a secure play area — “resulted in an amazing family feel”, he said.
