Spring Harvest is an inter-denominational Christian conference and gathering in the United Kingdom. Its "Main Event" takes place annually at the Butlins resorts in Minehead and Skegness over the Easter school holiday period.
First held in 1979 as a one-week one-site event at Prestatyn, Spring Harvest rapidly evolved and is now held at Butlins resorts in Minehead and Skegness every year.
The format for 2010 changed to five 'event-weeks' each consisting of 6 days (5 nights) – three event-weeks at Minehead and two at Skegness - one week fewer than in 2009. This pattern remained for 2011, with approximately 28,000 people attending over these five event-weeks, including day visitors. Then in 2012 and 2013 whilst the three Minehead weeks were retained there was only one Skegness week. In 2014 three of the four weeks available were reduced by one day.
The tone is generally evangelical with modern worship music, workshops and Bible study groups. The programme offers different streams for age groups such as children, young people, families, adults, etc. The organization also runs a number of events, conferences and courses and produces a range of resources. Spring Harvest exists to 'equip the Church for action'. Through a range of events, conferences, books and resources, Spring Harvest seeks to enable Christians to make an impact in their local communities and the wider world.
Location and attendance
1979: The first Spring Harvest event at Prestatyn, North Wales with 2,701 attending.1986: For the first time Spring Harvest took place at two locations in the UK: three weeks in Prestatyn, and two weeks in Butlins Minehead.1987: Spring Harvest met at Skegness for the first time.1988: At the 10th Spring Harvest, the attendance was over 50,000 mark.1989: Spring Harvest expanded to three locations, opening up a new Centre at Butlin's Ayr, Scotland.1994: Over 70,000 Christians attended Spring Harvest at its four locations in Ayr, Minehead, Pwllheli and Skegness.2008: Spring Harvest Main Event take place over five weeks across the Skegness and Minehead sites, to accommodate the varied times of UK schools' Easter holidays.Social campaigns and fund raising for causes
1982: At the outbreak of the Falklands War, Spring Harvest sent a telegram to the Prime Minister expressing 'the love and concern felt by Christians for both governments and peoples involved.' £7,800 was collected and sent to the Church in Argentina.1988: A worship album was launched, with profits going to Christian projects involved in supporting those with HIV/AIDS. It went on to raise over £20,000.1991: £250,000 was given in voluntary offerings for a wide range of Christian work. £49,000 raised for a 'Greener Burkina' by the youth programme, was used to replant a forest and build a dam to alleviate drought conditions in Burkina Faso, West Africa.1994 Spring Harvest brought attention to the Yugoslav Wars by sending a film crew to Mostar - a UN designated War Zone.1999: Spring Harvest raises thousands of pounds to help the victims of brutality in the Kosovo War.2000: Spring Harvest launches Generation 2000+ at Minehead, the family week, in conjunction with Care for the Family and raises over £1 million for children worldwide through the 'remember me' project.1993: Spring Harvest Word Alive was launched in-conjunction with the Keswick Convention, Proclamation Trust and UCCF.1996: Spring Harvest launched an initiative with Focus, and Holy Trinity, Brompton.1998: Spring Harvest unveils plans to develop its activities, the first new initiative 'At Work Together' a conference for Leaders planned for September 1998. Alongside the developments a new Corporate Identity is also launched.2003: Spring Harvest Holidays is launched with the holiday site in the Vendée, western France, opening to its first visitors. The first 'Youthwork the conference' takes place in Southport in November 2003.2007: Spring Harvest Word Alive takes place for the final time following a communication to its partners by Spring Harvest that it was no longer possible to continue the format. Word Alive will be continuing without Spring Harvest under the name New Word Alive.1993: Spring Harvest became a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.2009: Spring Harvest and ICC Media Group complete merger to form Memralife Group.2009: Pilgrim Hall Christian Conference Centre in Sussex becomes latest member of the Memralife Group.2010: After 20 years as CEO, Alan Johnson retires. Peter Martin appointed acting CEO of Memralife Group, this appointment being made permanent later in the year.Main event annual themes
Each year’s main event has a teaching theme.
2016 : Gamechangers2015 : Immeasurably More2014 : Unbelievable2013 : The Source - Encountering Jesus Today2012 : Church Actually - God's Brilliant Idea2011 : Route 66 - Biblical direction for the road we travel2010 : Different Eyes - Living distinctively in a time of uncertainty2009 : Apprentice = Walking the way of Christ2008 : One Hope2007 : One People2006 : One God : (The first event in a series of Three [THE BIG STORY])2005 : Sing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land2004 : Grace Academy : Losing to Win.2003 : Shepherd's Bush to King's Cross: Your connection to the mission of God.2002 : You've Got Mail : Jesus writes to His Church - Looking at the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.2001 : King of the Hill : looking at the Sermon on the Mount.2000 : A Royal Banquet : The inspiration for the Millennium – Looking at John’s Gospel.1999 : Past Imperfect Future Tense1998 : Across the border line1997 : Solid Rock : The Ten Commandments.1996 : Beyond Belief1995 : Take off your shoes1994 : Dancing in the dark1993 : Living on the edge1992 : Meanwhile, back at the cross1991 : Shaken but not Stirred1990 : Uncage the Lion1989 : Deckchairs on the Titanic : What influences the church today.1988 : Who’s pulling your strings : Looking at the forces and pressures which influence the world.1987 : Where Truth and Justice Meet1986 : This is your God1985 : Lights to the World1984 : The Servant King1983 : The Power and the GloryIn Week 2 at Minehead in 2003, Spring Harvest was featured on the BBC programme Songs of Praise. The first 'week' (week 1), still in Minehead, Spring Harvest was featured on both local and national news as a sickness bug spread rapidly around the event.In Week 3 at Minehead in 2006, the BBC returned to pre-record a Pentecost edition of Songs of Praise, and also to transmit a live Easter morning service from the event.Spring Harvest has also featured in other media, including BBC radio, and also regularly in Christian media.Hylson-Smith comments that non-denominational activities such as Spring Harvest did much to encourage pan-evangelicalism which tended to minimise historical differences between denominations and Bebbington sees it as bringing together keen charismatics and non-charismatics at a time when tensions were still high between the two groups.
Game Changers: Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2016New Songs for the church, 2016Kids Praise Party Megamix, 2016Little Kids Praise Party Megamix, 2016Immeasurably More: Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2015New Songs for the Church, 2015Newsongs For Kids: 12 Fresh New Songs For Kids' Worship, 2015The Big Start Boxset, 2015Unbelievable: Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2014New Songs For Unbelievable Worship – Spring Harvest, 2014Spring Harvest Presents The Big Start 3, 2014Your Great Grace: 30 Worship Anthems Of Grace, Mercy & Justice, 2014Kids Praise Party 2, 2014Bottled At The Source: Live Worship From Spring Harvest, 2013The Source: 22 New Songs For The Church, 2013Spring Harvest Presents The Big Start 2, 2013Live Worship Actually: Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2012Acoustic Worship 2, 2012Favourite Worship Songs From The Big Start, 2012Fresh: New Songs For The Church, 2012Pre-School Praise Boxset 1-3, 2012Pre-School Praise Boxset 4-6, 2012Kids Praise Party, 2012Route 66: Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2011Route 66: New Songs, 201120 More New Songs For The Church, 2011Pre-School Praise 6, 2011Kids Praise Party 6: C'mon EverybodyThrough Different Eyes - Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2010Glory – Spring Harvest New Songs, 2010Kids Praise Party: Celebrate God, 2010Moments Of Contemplation, 2010Pre-School Praise 5, 2010Through Different Eyes, 2010Acoustic Worship, 2010Moments Of Wonder, 2010He Is Risen! Indeed: Celebrating Jesus From The Big Top, 2010Kids Praise Party Box Set, 2010Journey: Walking The Way Of Christ - Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2009Perfect Sacrifice: 20 New Songs For The Church, 2009Pre-School Praise 4, 2009Kids Praise Party: We Wanna Be Like Jesus, 2009One Hope - Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2008Wonderful Saviour: 20 New Songs For Spring Harvest, 2008Moments Of Devotion: 12 Classic Instrumental Worship Songs, 2008He Is Risen: Easter Classics From The Big Top, 2008The Kids Colossal Jumbo Boxset, 2008Pre-School Praise 3, 2008Kids Praise Party 3, 2008One People Unified In Worship -Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2007Shine: 20 New Songs For Spring Harvest, 2007How Sweet The Sound, 2007Pre-School Praise 2, 2007Kids Praise Party 2, 2007One God - Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2006Our God Reigns - Spring Harvest New Songs, 2006iScape: No One Like You, 2006Pre-School Praise 1, 2006Kids Praise Party 1, 2006Essence Of Praise & Worship...live! Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2005Sing: New Songs, 2005Distinctive Sounds: Glory, 2005Little Kids Praise 2005/06, 2005Kids Praise 2005/06, 2005Spring Harvest Hymns 3: Blessed Assurance, 2005LIVE -Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2004New Songs, 2004Little Kids Praise 2004/05, 2004Kids Praise 2004/05, 2004Ultimate Kids Praise: 60 All Time Classic Kids Praise Songs, 2004Evolution, 2004Spring Harvest Hymns 2: To God Be The Glory, 2004Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2003New Songs, 2003Spring Harvest Hymns: Great Is Thy Faithfulness, 2003Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2002New Songs, 2002Kids Praise 2002Praise Mix 2002Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2001New Songs, 2001Kids Praise 2001Little Kids Praise 2001Spring Harvest Live Worship, 2000New Songs, 2000Kid's Praise 2000Best Of Spring Harvest Kids Praise And Little Kids Praise, 2000Little Kids Praise 2000Spring Harvest Live Worship ‘99New Songs ‘99Spring Harvest: The Ultimate Praise Mix, 1999Praise Mix 99Spring Harvest Live Worship ‘98New Songs ‘98Kid's Praise '98R:age 98Spring Harvest Live Worship ’97 (Vol 1 and Vol 2)New Songs for 1997Praise Mix: Quatamala, 1997Kids Praise '97Spring Harvest Live Worship ‘96 (Vol 1 and Vol 2)New Songs ’96 Beyond BeliefSpring Harvest Kids Praise '96Praise Mix: Shout It Out, 1996Take Off Your Shoes - Spring Harvest Live Worship ‘95Take off your shoes - New Songs ’95Praise Mix 1995: It's A Small WorldKid's Praise '95Spring Harvest Live Worship ‘94Dancing in the Dark - New Songs ‘94Praise Mix 1994Kids Praise '94: Dancing In The DarkSping Harvest Live Worship '93New Songs for ‘93Kids Praise '93: Dancing In The DarkPraise Mix '93: Living On The EdgeSpring Harvest Live Worship ‘92Meanwhile, Back At The Cross: 12 New Songs For Spring Harvest 1992Kids Praise: Meanwhile, Back At The Cross, 1992Spring Harvest Live Worship ’91: shaken but not stirredKids Praise '91: Shaken But Not StirredLive Worship '90: Uncage The Lion, 1990Celebration '89 Vol 1 & Vol 2: Worship From Minehead, Skegness, AyrSpring Harvest '89: 12-19 PraiseSpring Harvest Live Worship ‘88Thank You: Celebrating 10 Years Of Worship At Spring Harvest, 1988Live Worship '87: Where Truth And Justice MeetLive Worship '86: This Is Your GodLive Worship '85: Lights To The WorldLive Worship '84: The Servant KingPraise Vol 2: Live Worship '83