Thousands set to come to Himley Hall for day of togetherness, worship and faith

The Together Festival 25 is a multi-generational Christian festival which is set to bring more than 3,000 to the grounds of Himley Hall and Park on Saturday, June 14.

The event, also known as Festival 25, is being hosted by interdenominational charity Love Black Country (LBC), an organisation made up of churches and church leaders from across the Black Country.

In a shift to be more racially inclusive, organisers have booked rapper Limoblaze (Samuel Onwubiko), who, with his Afro beat/hip-hop fusion has taken the contemporary Christian music scene by storm, while multi-racial Warehouse Worship, a collaboration that has evolved into a powerful, contemporary music platform across denominations, are also on the bill.

Charity spokesman Tim Fellows said that a breakthrough in connecting with the Black Church-Led expressions of worship came in Together 24 at the Bethel Convention Centre in West Bromwich, when a black gospel Together Choir became the masterpiece of what ‘oneness’ can achieve.

Mr Fellows also said that he hoped the event would show that the church was a full multicultural entity with a wish to collaborate more with the community.

He said: “It was exactly the catalyst required to fuel more meaningful relationships with the Black community, a moment to further unity beyond historic borders, and that is represented in the Festival25 programme.

“Our fun-packed Festival25 will hopefully convince sceptics that the Church is vibrant, alive, relevant and genuinely multicultural. 

“In the last 12 months, we have developed more robust relationships with the Afro-Caribbean network in Wolverhampton and the wider Black Country.

“As opportunities have arisen to help champion some of the high profile social and crime issues being tackled by the city’s Churches 4 Positive Change, there’s been a greater desire to jointly collaborate further."

Mr Fellows said part of the aims of the event was to widen the scope for Black churches in the region and look at how they can work together.

He said: “Truthfully, we’re not sure how many Black Churches there are in the four boroughs of Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Wolverhampton, the areas we represent. 

"We know there have been several independents established in recent years, especially of African and Asian origins. 

"These emerging congregations are key to earthing our faith in the realities of addressing social, economic and spiritual needs in the region."

The festival comes on the heels of a national church survey showing church attendances in England and Wales have increased by 50 per cent over the last six years, with young people aged between 18 and 24 the second largest attendance demographic, behind those who are aged 65 and over. 

Festival 25 will have a multi-generational programme with ten dedicated zones, including children’s entertainment, street food, wellbeing area, faith sharing workshops, youth events and a creative area. 

For the first time, what is being promoted as an ‘’immersive prayer tent experience” is being offered, where all are welcome to join in prayers for a better Black Country where all are welcome to join.

Local musicians taking the stage will include Together Choir, Room One Project from Walsall and the Together Band.

Gates open 12 noon. Tickets are available on the day, or online.