Cumbria is an English county known worldwide, not least for having at its heart the beautiful Lake District National Park, nominated to become a World Heritage site.
Then there’s the Keswick Convention, a name which has also rippled around the world. And yet another famous export are Derwent Pencils.
Using graphite from nearby hills, Keswick was renowned for producing the best pencils in the world. The Cumberland Pencil factory was located in the heart of the town, but the business moved to West Cumbria some years ago. The factory site, however, is now looking forward to an exciting new lease of life, as Keswick Ministries has purchased the land for the Derwent Project.
Growth and integration
The annual summer Convention is now bursting at the seams, attracting over 12,000 people of all generations and backgrounds over a three week period. The main tent is on one site, now tightly bounded by housing, and a second site is used for youth and children’s ministry. It is this site which is adjacent to the Derwent Project, and so the land purchase means the combined two sites will host most of the Convention on one integrated site, making things much easier and providing for growth. A new marquee will house upwards of 4,000 people and, once developed, the new site will be an attractive venue for Christian ministry right in the heart of this lovely town.
Teaching and training
The core values of the Keswick movement – Hearing God’s Word, Becoming like God’s Son, Serving God’s mission – have resonated with many believers, who are calling for other Bible-teaching events, as well as training programmes for leaders, youth workers, etc. Consequently, the Derwent site will also host a new conference facility, with an auditorium for at least 400. This will provide a platform for teaching and training events at other times of the year, as well as for use by many churches and by the local community, with whom Keswick Ministries enjoys a positive relationship. The Convention’s many visitors, coming from all walks of life, are contributing generously to the substantial funding target.
Don Carson, who will speak at Keswick this summer, is encouraging the initiative forward: ‘Those of us who have observed Keswick’s extensive and fruitful ministry across the last few decades cannot help but rejoice as its directors envisage the acquisition of larger property that will enable them to engage in new forms of year-round ministry. The vision is wonderful, the goals attainable, the promise encouraging.’
Cumbria, the North, the UK
Such a year-round facility will be of special encouragement to evangelicals in Cumbria, the North, and the Scottish borders, and Keswick Ministries is being deliberate in establishing stronger links with the local churches.
James Devenish, the Keswick Ministries Business Director, underlines this strategic goal: ‘At the heart of the Derwent Project is our desire to see all generations of Christians coming to the Convention, and we hope to hold the 2018 Convention on this new site. Living here in Cumbria, I am particularly excited that the Derwent Project will serve as an encouragement to churches in the region, both through our own teaching and training events as well as being a centre for use by the Christian community, and therefore it will contribute to gospel ministry in the North West, one of the more demanding regions for evangelicals in the UK.’
True to gospel commitments
From its launch in 1875 on the lawns of St John’s vicarage, the Convention has stayed true to its core gospel commitments and, by God’s grace, the Derwent Project will ensure a secure platform for ministry for generations to come.
Dr John Lennox has said: ‘Keswick has made an immense contribution to the spiritual life of the UK. From my perspective as a Keswick speaker, there is no question as to the value of having Conventions that empha-size clear and authoritative Bible teaching. Furthermore, as a parent and grandparent I am deeply grateful as I see the spiritual benefit that my children and grandchildren reap every year as they attend a Keswick week. I therefore unhesitatingly support this new initiative to extend Keswick Ministries’ capacity to be a spiritual oasis on a larger scale and at even more times of the year.’
Oh, and one more thing: the site hosts the well-known Pencil Museum, which has the world’s first pencil and the largest colour pencil – another first for Cumbria!
