All set for town's biggest Bible event

A handful of bookings for the Bible week has already been taken by the Christ for the Nations UK charity '“ just over a year before it is due to be staged.

Some 600 people are expected to attend the week between September 20 and 26, 2008, at the Royal Norfolk Hotel.

Most events will be based around a giant marquee which will cover most of the seafront site's front lawn.

Christ for the Nations' director of studies Judith Lee said: 'We are excited to have had some bookings so far in advance. It is a possibility the Bible week will bring in people from quite a considerable distance.

'The week should be good for Bognor. Some people will want to stay overnight, which should help hotels and guesthouses as well as the Royal Norfolk.

'They will also be walking around the town at various times and spending money in the local shops. So, it should be good for businesses in general.'

Various Bible weeks are held around the country. One of the best known of the annual occasions is in Keswick in the Lake District, which started in the 19th century.

The idea of holding the week in Bognor came from one of the volunteers at Christ for the Nations a few months ago.

His suggestion was quickly adopted by the charity, which has been based at the 40-bedroom three-star Royal Norfolk for three years.

It is known that some Christian outreach sessions were held in a marquee in Bognor in the 1980s.

But there has been nothing on the scale of the intended seven days of activities.

The aims of the week are to provide effective Bible teaching, challenging speakers, daily praise and worship, and entertaining fringe events hosted by Bognor churches.

Nationally renowned speakers lined up include Derek Tidball, the principal of the London School of Theology, Westminster Chapel senior pastor Greg Haslam and singer-songwriter Rob Newey.

The fringe events will feature drama, music and dance.

Ms Lee added that the week was intended to be a friendly and relaxed event.

Members of various churches were to be encouraged to build bridges between their various faiths.

It was expected that many church goers from around Bognor would want to take part as well as those from further afield.

Christ for the Nations also uses the Royal Norfolk as a venue for Saturday courses and conferences. Three conferences will take place there this autumn along with a host of other one day events.

The conference on November 9 features Adrian Plass who has a worldwide reputation as a speaker and writer. His latest book, Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation, sums up his humorous approach to religion.