We're delighted to invite you to the first ever
St Andrew's Camping Weekend!
10th-12th July 2026
We'll be heading away together from 10th-12th July 2026 for a weekend of great fun as a church family. It's a chance for us to get away from the usual busyness of life for a weekend full of laughter, community, great food and even better company. This is your chance to relax, connected with others from across the church, deepen friendship and connect with God. We'll have fun and games, shared meals, outdoor adventures and space for spiritual refreshment, alongside marshmallow toasting, tractor rides and cozy campfires under the stars. Our hope is that this will be a chance for each of us in the church family to connect together, grow community and have loads of fun (hopefully in the sun!).
So pack your tent (and maybe your waterproof) and join in!
If you're not a big camper, there are rooms available at the local pub, or you could even join us for the day. The campsite is about 40 minutes from Bournemouth - close enough that we're not travelling for hours but far enough away to bring some perspective, refreshment and a proper change of pace. Our prayer is that this time will be life giving to each of us in the church family.
Tents, caravans or campervans can be pitched from Friday afternoon for the weekend. On Sunday morning we'll gather for church as usual, meeting on the campsite before heading back home later that afternoon.
Any questions? You might find the answer below!
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The weekend is open to everyone at St Andrew’s – individuals, couples, families, students and children. Whether you’re brand new to church or have been part of the community for years, you’re very welcome.
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Yes! This is very much a church family weekend, and we expect there will be lots of children there. There will be space for them to run around, play games and enjoy the outdoors.
There won’t be a programmed children’s event. Families are encouraged to enjoy the space and time together.
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Yes. If you can’t make the whole weekend, you’re welcome to join for a day or part of the weekend.
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You’ll need your tent or camping setup, sleeping gear, camping chairs or mats, food for meals you’re cooking yourself, and clothes for all weather. A more detailed packing list will be sent out closer to the time. If you don’t have equipment we’d recommend you speak with your small group leader who will be able to help you with arrangements.
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This is the UK, so we’re planning to embrace whatever weather comes our way! There will still be plenty of opportunities to gather, eat together and enjoy the weekend.
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The campsite has toilets and showers available for everyone staying on site. Full details of facilities will be shared before the weekend.
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Pitches will be standard camping pitches without electrical hook-up, so please plan accordingly if you’re bringing a caravan or campervan.
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Yes! Campfires will be part of the fun, including marshmallow toasting in the evening. We’ll provide guidance about where fires can safely be lit.
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No. This is a chance to disconnect a little and enjoy time away from the our usual rhythms and routines. Mobile phone signal is also a little patchy on site which may be an unexpected gift!
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The campsite is mostly flat, but some areas may be grassy or uneven. Please get in touch if you have specific accessibility needs so we can advise.
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Not at all. If camping isn’t your thing, there are rooms available at the local pub nearby , or you’re very welcome to join us just for the day on Saturday, or for church on Sunday.
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All the pitches are grass with no hard standing, so it may depend on the weather… we don’t want any stuck campervans!
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The weekend will be fairly relaxed. There will be shared meals, games, outdoor activities, time to connect with others, and moments to gather for prayer and worship. There will also be plenty of free time to rest, explore, or enjoy the campsite.
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We’re planning wood-fired pizzas on Friday evening and a BBQ on Saturday as shared meals for the whole group. These will be great times to gather together and eat as a church family.
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When you sign up, there will be a place to let us know about any dietary requirements or allergies. We’ll do our best to make sure there are suitable options at the pizza and BBQ meals.
There will be vegetarian options at the pizza and BBQ, and we’ll do our best to accommodate other dietary needs if you let us know when signing up.
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Yes if you’d like to bring snacks, desserts, or drinks to share, you’re very welcome to. These things often add to the fun of the weekend and you can never have too much cake!
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Yes! Tea and coffee is expected to be essential… there’s a reason we run a barista training programme!
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Well-behaved dogs are welcome as long as they’re kept on a lead at all times on site and owners clean up after them.
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The campsite is a little rural, so public transport options are limited. Driving or lift sharing is recommended.
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That’s completely fine. One of the main hopes for the weekend is that people across the church get to know one another better, so it’s a great opportunity to make new friends.