Christians from across Gorleston came together on Sunday as churches united for a joyful open-air service at the town’s iconic bandstand, sharing the hope of the gospel in the heart of one of the area’s biggest community events.
The annual Churches Together service took place alongside the Gorleston Cliff Top Festival, with thousands of people enjoying the seafront over the weekend for live music, entertainment and family activities. Against that vibrant backdrop, the churches gathered to worship Jesus publicly on Sunday morning, offering a visible expression of Christian unity and an open invitation for local residents, holidaymakers and festival-goers to join them.
Led by church leaders and a combined worship band drawn from congregations across the town, the service featured contemporary worship, prayer, Bible teaching and a message centred on Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Those gathered were encouraged to reflect on God’s generosity and to recognise that, when placed in God’s hands, even the small things we offer can be used to bless many.
Throughout the service, many people passing through the festival stopped to listen, took seats around the bandstand or remained nearby to enjoy the worship. The music echoed across the promenade, creating opportunities for conversations and a public witness to the hope found in Jesus Christ.
The Revd Matthew Price, Vicar of St Mary Magdalene Church, who helped organise the service, said:
“One of the wonderful things about this service is that it reminds us that the Church is much bigger than any one congregation. We come from different traditions, but we share the same gospel and the same desire to see people encounter the love of Jesus.
“The Cliff Top Festival brings together thousands of people to celebrate our community, so it felt entirely fitting that the churches should be there too. We believe the good news of Jesus is for everyone, and meeting in such a public place reminds us that the Church isn’t hidden away behind its walls. We want people to know that they are loved by God, that there is hope in Christ, and that they are always welcome.”
The annual service is organised by Gorleston Baptist Church, Cliff Park Community Church and St Andrew’s and St Mary Magdalene Churches and reflects the strong relationships that exist between the churches.
Matthew said:
“At a time when it can often feel as though society is becoming more divided, it was encouraging to stand together as followers of Jesus. Our prayer is that the unity people saw would point beyond ourselves to Christ, who brings people together and offers hope to everyone.”
Organisers expressed their gratitude to the musicians, volunteers, church leaders and local authorities who helped make the event possible, as well as to everyone who paused to worship or simply stopped to listen.
As the sounds of worship mingled with the celebrations of the Cliff Top Festival, the churches hope that those who heard the songs, prayers and message were reminded that the Christian faith continues to have a joyful and active place at the heart of the community.
