Media release: Great revamp receives Bishops blessing

Scripture Union’s Great Wood campsite in the Quantocks, Somerset received a Bishop’s blessing on May 8 when The Rt Rev Andrew Radford, Bishop of Taunton, formally dedicated the future of the site to God.

The 60-year old site has recently been given a major overhaul with the purchase of six smart new cabins, which now include en-suite facilities, and some 200 people had gathered from across the country to give thanks to God for all that he has done at this special site over the years.

As well as being the home to many of Scripture Union’s most popular holidays, the site is also used by the Somerset Local Education Authority throughout the summer months for school groups as a key part of the National Curriculum.

Bishop Andrew, who also gave the address at the Service of Dedication for the new site, commented ‘Our Diocese is fortunate to be home to the valuable Scripture Union site. It provides a tremendous opportunity for children to rediscover the value of the more basic forms of life away from the pressures of our technological age.’

For John Owen, Chairman of the Great Wood Estate Group responsible for the management of the site, the new cabins signaled the latest initiative to improvements that have occurred over the years. ‘Having been associated with the site since my early days as a toddler, I am thrilled to see this latest phase in its development come to completion.  The new facilities we have been able to provide have become essential as a means of ensuring the highest levels of child protection.’

The new cabins are a result of months of effort by many volunteers and Keith Civval, Chief Executive of Scripture Union, praised the work of supporters that saw the development of the site realised.‘We are enormously thankful to our supporters whose sacrificial giving has made this venture possible and to the dedicated band of volunteers who have given their skills and their time to construct the cabins to such a very high standard.’

NOTES TO EDITORS

    1.

• Great Wood Camp is the only Scripture Union owned site of its kind in England and Wales. It is situated in the Quantock Hills in Somerset. The site was “discovered” by John Inchley in 1943, who subsequently developed it from a tented site to a fully equipped site with wooden cabins for sleeping, and larger huts for kitchen, dining, meeting facilities and so on.
• The five-acre site lends itself to a variety of activities. There is a stream running along the back of the camp, and facilities include a small swimming pool.  Great Wood has evolved as a focus for SU residential activities during the Easter and summer holidays, and as a Local Education Authority Centre during term time.
• It has been the vision of many of Great Wood’s supporters that the term time work, which has been run on a purely secular basis, should have a Christian input, and as a first step towards this a SU schools worker was appointed in 2001 to work on the site alongside the LEA.

Prior to this latest development the majority of the buildings were 40 years old. Combined with this there is a considerable increase in expectations of both parents and users of the site, against a backdrop of concerns for child safety and the availability of more up to date alternatives.

    2.   

Scripture Union is an international mission movement working with churches in more than 130 countries to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to children, young people and families, and to encourage them spiritually through the Bible and prayer.

    3.   

Scripture Union holidays are adrenaline-pumping, Bible-centred breaks, mostly taking place in residential centres across England and Wales. From multi-activity to specialist holidays, outdoor pursuits to performing arts, for primary-aged children, tailor-made for school leavers and holidays for those with special needs, it’s clear there are many to choose from.