Malmesbury Abbey's Skate Festival 2013 - Another great success

For the fifth time the annual Malmesbury Abbey Skate Festival proved to be a huge success over the February half term holidays. The Abbey is around 850 years old and one of the key landmarks in Wiltshire, yet for three days each year this fantastic building turns into probably the world's oldest skate Park!

The initiative is a joint partnership between Malmesbury Abbey Church, Christian Skaters UK, and Christian Surfers UK ( Owners of the Skatepark ) all of which work together to put on an event which this year saw around 600 youngsters use the skate Park built inside this historic building.

The idea came from head of the Abbey Neill Archer, and some of the parishioners many years ago, and after an initial call with head of Christian Surfers and Skaters Phil Williams they launched the first event to huge media interest.

Even now the interest across the UK continues to be very high with an article and photo in The Times newspaper, following the first day of this year’s event. The Malmesbury Abbey team offer fantastic hospitality to those visiting the Abbey year-round, and this continues during the event, with the cafe and other entertainment laid on to keep the old and young entertained.

Christian Skaters UK bring a team of around 10 volunteers who give up their time for these three days, to work hard and to break down preconceived ideas about what a Christian is all about. Each year the feedback continues to be very positive, even from those who are visiting the Abbey and can't quite believe that they are entering into a skate Park?

The event culminates on Friday evening with a number of contests, starting with the under eights and moving up through to the open categories. The Abbey is packed with the contestants as well as friends, mums and dads, parents and guardians, and the slickly run event culminates with the presentation awards, prizes, and trophies, and one of the Christian Skaters crew sharing their faith to the hundreds of spectators.

The event compliments the work that goes on throughout the year at the Abbey, and many skaters and other park users have made steps towards a faith in a God who loves skateboarders and scooter riders as much as anybody else.

Plans are already underway for the 2014 event which will be held from Wednesday 19^th to Friday 21st February 2014.

One quote from the parents seems to sum up the positive response from the community “Just a note to congratulate your amazing team this last week. The patience and energy they have is amazing. My sons had a fab time and commented last night that it's a shame it only once a year. Again congratulations”

If you would like any further details about the Christian Surfers ministry who own the skate Park, or Christian Skaters please e-mail phil a_t christiansurfers d_o_t co d_o_t uk or check out www.christiansurfers.co.uk and if you would like any more information about the event and what goes on at the Abbey throughout the year e-mail sarahmcgrory1 a_t aim d_o_t com or go to the website www.malmesburyabbey.com

Once again a fantastic event, for which we give God the glory for the partnership that has blossomed over these years, seeing youngsters and their families making steps to a faith with an amazing God.