The 16th Festival of Grace was held at St Peter’s Parish Church, Gaulby, Leicestershire on Saturday 12 September. Gaulby Reformed Evangelical Anglican Fellowship is one of the remaining Anglican churches in Leicestershire which still uphold the doctrines of the English Reformers.
The event was inaugurated by the late Revd Ashley Cheesman, rector from 1988 until his untimely death in 2010, and has become one of the most significant rural parish events in Leicestershire.
The first presentation was by David Baynes, head teacher of Emmanuel Christian School, Leicester, who gave a history of the work since its inception in 2003. The school started with 11 pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 and now has 45 pupils covering all four Key Stages. The group of pupils who started at its inception took their GCSEs this year and gained many A* and A grades and are now going on to further education.
The second speaker was Andrea Williams, founder and director of Christian Concern, who gave her testimony and explained how, after becoming a barrister, people came to her for help over issues such as individuals losing their jobs due to their Christian beliefs. From those beginnings Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre were born. She reminded us of the enormous changes, contrary to God-given values, that have taken place in society over the last 60 years. As believers we were urged to be vocal and courageous in speaking out against unbiblical changes to our statute book.
The final speaker was the Revd Richard Brooks, preacher, author and retired former minister of Dales Evangelical Church in Matlock. He gave a clear and very appropriate presentation, taken from John 1.16, of the ‘grace upon grace’ which our Lord provides for his people. Next year’s festival is on 10 September.
