30,000 Expected at South Downs Christian Music Festival

Around 30,000 people are expected to attend a three-day Christian music festival at Wiston Estate in the South Downs over the August bank holiday weekend.

The Big Church Festival, formerly known as Big Church Day Out, has been running for 15 years and is moving from its usual May date to August for the first time.

Organisers have submitted a licence application to Horsham District Council for the event, which will feature live music, dance performances, films, and plays. The festival, founded by musician Tim Jupp of the band Delirious?, will take place outdoors and in tents, with all performances and screenings aligning with a Christian theme. Food and alcohol will be available, but organisers have stated that anyone displaying signs of drunkenness or drug use will be removed from the site.

The change of date is intended to make the festival more accessible, avoiding clashes with other Christian events and school or university exams. Organisers hope the move will allow more people to attend and provide warmer nights for camping. Church groups will have the option to rent marquees for morning activities while the festival runs youth and children’s programmes.