TLT at The Royal Cheshire Show

We were delighted to have a stall in The Church at the show marquee at the Royal Cheshire Show on 16th and 17th June. With around 80,000 visitors expected across the two days, it was a valuable opportunity to connect with people, particularly from rural communities, and share more about our work.

Our stand featured information about Places of Welcome, Filling the Gap projects, and the training and events we facilitate. Using the Church Urban Fund's Web of Poverty, we encouraged visitors to reflect on the different forms of poverty they see in their communities and consider practical ways they could help bring about positive change.

The marquee itself felt very much like a Place of Welcome, with a fantastic team of chaplains offering refreshments and hospitality throughout the event. We also used a game of Jenga, with questions on each block, to spark conversation and reflection.

One particularly memorable encounter was with a 14-year-old boy who answered the question, “What is the most important thing to you?” with a simple but powerful response: “God.” He shared how his faith journey began after finding a Bible in his grandad's loft and how he is now reading through the book of Joshua and hopes to start attending church.

Overall, the show provided a wonderful opportunity to build relationships, hear inspiring stories, and learn about the amazing work taking place across the Diocese of Chester and beyond.