Choose wise stewards at comfortable venues
Church leaders looking for a centre to provide facilities for retreat, conferences and special events should consider The Venues Collection – ‘a hospitality model perfectly aligning with Christian values around stewardship, care for creation and social responsibility.’
That’s the view of Laurina Rushworth, director of faith for the five residential conference venues in the UK, including Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire and Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes. The Venues Collection, exhibitors at CRE 25, offers spaces for churches, charities and Christian organisations to meet, learn and worship.
‘Yarnfield Park is centrally located in the Midlands and offers extensive grounds, peaceful settings and large-scale capacity, with rooms for up to 500 guests – making it the ideal venue for church weekends, training events or ministry gatherings,’ said Laurina. ‘Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes, with excellent transport links, provides modern, accessible facilities supported by advanced, energy-saving technology and eco-conscious operations. Both sites maintain wildflower areas, beehives and wildlife habitats – demonstrating their care for God’s creation.’
The Venues Collection received a gold award for ‘Sustainability Award for Venues’ at the Conference & Event Awards 2025.
‘It is testament to the hard work and passion by the team, and reinforces the group’s commitment to deep decarbonisation, positioning them as a true pioneer in sustainable events,’ said Laurina.
- The Venues Collection are on stand D10 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
The eyes (and ears) have it
Ground-breaking technology that delivers live speech transcription – in any language and directly to a mobile phone or AV system – will be a major focus at CRE 25.
SpeakSee will have church leaders amazed at how it can help deaf people and those hard of hearing, as well as doubling as a live-translation device for non-native speakers. This is a brand-new product in the UK, solely distributed to churches by long-standing CRE exhibitor DM Music, who have been established for more than 30 years as one of the leading, dedicated church audio-visual system installers.
Adam Lee, the UK regional director for the Dutch-based SpeakSee company, will join DM Music on their stand as well as giving a live demonstration of SpeakSee’s capabilities at the ‘My Church Needs One of Those’ presentation area (1.40pm, Wed 15 Oct).
‘SpeakSee’s live dictation will also be in constant use in all the CRE talks areas,’ Adam told CRE News. ‘By scanning the QR code at the relevant stage, you will be able connect to SpeakSee on your phone!’
- SpeakSee are on the DM Music stand F1 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Flagging down the faithful
A range of ready-made church flags – designed to support outreach, services and events throughout the Christian calendar – will be on display at CRE for the first time this year.
Themes include Welcome, Prayer Space, Messy Church, Christmas and Easter services – and many more.
Adam Haycock, managing director of Sailflags, said: ‘All the flags are printed in our UK factory using eco-friendly, recycled polyester and water-based inks. This not only helps reduce environmental impact but ensures excellent durability and colour vibrancy – even in the unpredictable British weather!
‘They are highly visual, easy to set up, and ideal for churches looking to boost visibility or promote community events. They also come in a variety of sizes with a wide range of base options to suit grass, tarmac and indoor surfaces. We also offer a free design service for churches that want to include their own logos, themes, or colours. The right flag can be a powerful tool for outreach – and we’d love to help more churches stand out and be seen.’
Visitors to CRE 25 can take advantage of exclusive event offers and speak to the Sailflags team about bespoke options for churches and special events.
- Sailflags are on stand C4 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Open the Book: making school assemblies meaningful and memorable
More than 4000 UK churches are reaching hundreds of thousands of school children every year – bringing Bible stories to life in creative ways.
Open the Book is a network of storytelling teams, made up local volunteers, who present short, scripted stories in simple costumes at school assemblies. One of the Bible Society’s key resources for churches, the project brings more than 90 Bible stories to life.
‘We aim to make the Bible accessible, enjoyable, meaningful and memorable,’ said Rachel Cully, team lead for OtB. ‘We engage a congregation in mission, no matter their age or stage of faith and support, serve and forge relationship with local schools, increasing both the children and storytellers’ biblical knowledge. The project also connects generations, Christian traditions and even wider communities. Everything is provided – training, support and resources. Our storytellers love being part of OtB.’
As Jenny a school chaplain from Doncaster said: ‘We have great fun – there’s so much laughter getting dressed up and rehearsing.’ One storyteller got the men in her congregation involved by asking them to donate a bright tie. She sewed them together to make Joseph’s coat!
‘I work with many churches struggling to engage with schools, and to many of their problems this is the answer,’ said Rev Huw Thomas, Sheffield Diocesan Director of Education. ‘Open the Book is a gem of a resource.’
- Open the Book are on stand S15 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Total church access: let experts do the audit
Churches requiring an access audit need look no further than one of CRE’s longest-standing exhibitors.
MEB Design, exhibitors at the very first CRE in 1985, are now able to assess a building, an environment or a service in terms of its accessibility and inclusivity – to ensure the protected characteristics identified by the Equality Act 2010 are not discriminated against. The audit identifies barriers to access and how to mitigate such barriers – a key part of any project and design process. The final report can assist with the development of an action plan to improve a building’s accessibility and inclusivity.
‘We canhelp to develop and work with the client brief, offering advice on reasonable adjustments which are cost-effective and deliverable within an identifiable and accountable timescale,’ said MEB Design’s Maggie Forrester. ‘If this is an area we can help you with, or if you are unsure about next steps, we would be happy to have a conversation with you at CRE 25, to help you determine a course of action.’
MEB Design – with three offices in Kent, Oxford and South Bank, London – have recently used an access audit, as well as their heritage expertise, to facilitate the planning application for Putney Methodist Church (pictured).
- MEB Design are on stand B10 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Customise your collections
Digital giving methods may be on the rise but one company will be at CRE 25 to emphasise the enduring value of physical offertory envelopes.
Lockie Limited, operating under the brand Lockie Church, has been a cornerstone in the printing industry for more than 60 years, specialising in the manufacture and supply of church collection envelopes, charity envelopes and related stationery.
‘Our experience in church and charity envelopes fills a unique niche in the printing industry,’ said Lockie’s Tim Hunt. ‘We recognise the historical and cultural significance of offertory envelopes, a tradition rooted in early Christian communities where believers contributed money, livestock or agricultural produce to support church ministries. They provide a tangible and personal way for congregations to contribute.’
Recent upgrades in print machinery allow for colour print facilities and customers can now fully customise their church envelopes to incorporate church details, custom images, text and verses.
‘Available with full colour designs and a selection of box colours and print specifications, the bespoke finish is completely down to the customer’s imagination!’ Tim told CRE News. ‘Whether you’re running a small parish or overseeing the ordering for a diocese, understanding these options can streamline your operations and enhance your community’s giving experience. We stand as a trusted partner for parishes and charities across the UK.’
- Lockie Church are on stand I2 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk