HISTORY IN PHOTOS

The first-ever Convention was born in 1875 after Thomas Harford-Battersby, the Vicar of St John’s Church in Keswick, experienced a deep, refreshing encounter with Jesus at a conference in Oxford.

After wearying in his faith and feeling the weight of his own sin, he met with Jesus in a truly precious way at the conference, writing in his diary...

‘Christ was revealed to me so powerfully and so sweetly as the present Saviour in all his sufficiency. I found he was all I wanted… I will rest in him’

Thomas Harford-Battersby

Harford-Battersby was utterly transformed. Having been so changed by this encounter with Jesus, he wanted others to experience the same in his own parish, and in just three weeks, he organised a Bible Convention in his back garden. Under a banner that read ‘All one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28) in a tent on the lawn of St John’s Vicarage, Keswick, he invited Christians across denominations to gather together around God’s word - and the first Keswick Convention was born.

Harford-Battersby opened the Convention with Psalm 62:5; ‘My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.’ It was a life-changing few days of renewal as everyone allowed the truth of God’s word to soak into their hearts and to transform their minds. The Convention was such a wonderful encouragement to the community that word soon spread, and they repeated it the next year, with more attendees. 

Year after year, the Convention grew, with founder Harford-Battersby leading eight of them before he died on the first day of the Convention in 1883. Over 2,000 people attended his funeral from Keswick and further afield because they had been powerfully renewed by God’s word at the Convention.

150 years later, the heart of The Convention remains the same - to be delighted by Jesus as we open the Bible, to become more like him by his Spirit, and to make him known everywhere. 

The first Convention at St John's Vicarage in 1875

During a service in the Eskin street tent

Keswick Convention

Since 1875, The Keswick Convention has grown into a three-week -long experience with up to 12,000 attendees every summer. Just as Harford-Battersby’s heart was transformed by Jesus all those years ago, we continue to gather today, eager to feast on the riches of God’s word, sing, and enjoy being one big family in Christ Jesus. 

We make sure the Convention is accessible for everyone, with free admission and programmes for all including children, youth, and young adults. Christians from all traditions worship together and are refreshed by God’s word in the beauty of his creation.

The Derwent Project

The Derwent Project was a significant chapter in our story. God had given the Trustees the vision for a larger, integrated site as a home for the Keswick Convention and for year-round ministry. In 2014 the opportunity came up to buy the derelict Pencil Factory in the middle of Keswick - an iconic local building and the perfect home for Keswick Ministries. We launched the Derwent Project - our fundraising campaign to raise what was needed to buy and refurbish this site. By God’s miraculous grace and the generous donations of many supporters, by 2024 we had reached our goal and were able to fund the purchase and refurbishment of the site, enabling us to expand our ministry throughout the year as well as providing a permanent home for the Convention."

The Pencil Factory in 2015 before refurblishment

‘In an increasingly secular age Keswick Ministries provides our generation of Christians with a solid foundation of serious Biblical teaching, rigorous thinking about current challenges to the gospel and a passionate encouragement to be involved in mission and evangelism around the world.’

Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing

International author, speaker and theologian

Keswick Fellowship

Over the last 150 years, the Convention has not only impacted churches in the UK but also worldwide. Today, the Keswick Fellowship is a network of leaders, working together to live out the vision of Keswick and host Bible Conventions across the UK, Europe, Asia, North America, Australia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Learn about the fellowship

Events

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In recent years Keswick Ministries has begun developing Bible-centred events for Christians who desire to encounter more of God's goodness all year-round. We offer training to help those hungry for Jesus dive into the word, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and go and joyfully live for him wherever He has called them.

Resources

As technology has developed over the years, our desire to make the word of God available to all has led us to collate an ever-expanding library of digital resources, such as talks and podcasts that are freely available and quick to access. Through these resources, we want to equip people to respond to today's issues with the truth of God's word, with Bible teaching that goes through the heart and out into lives.

Resources

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What We Do

Every summer, we gather in the Lake District for worship, Bible teaching, and community. We also run year-round events and share free resources to help you live for Jesus.

Our Beliefs

We want everyone to encounter the transforming love of Christ and choose to live for him. Read more about what we believe here.

Our People

Our team is passionate about helping others delight in Jesus, and make him known. Meet our staff and Board of Trustees who help make Keswick Ministries possible.