Churches launch new Fleet Festival in Kentish Town

Kentish Town played host to a new festival at the weekend with free activities organised for the whole community.

The Fleet Festival, named after the river that runs beneath the ward, was a joint venture between five local churches to celebrate the Pentecost.

Adults and children joined in activities including free music lessons, dance workshops, knitting tea parties, screen printing and sport in venues across the area on Saturday.

Volunteers cooked a three-course food bank celebration meal for 50 people at Our Lady Help of Christian’s church in Lady Margaret Road, while a film screening, live music and DJs brought the Kentish Town pubs alive into the evening.

Debt and counselling services were also available throughout the day, and the festival came to a close on Sunday morning where the five churches – New Life Church in Tufnell Park and Revelation Church, Chalk Farm Baptist Church and Shoreline Calvary at St Saviour’s Church, all Chalk Farm, gathered at St Luke’s in Oseney Crescent in Kentish Town for a family service followed by a barbeque and picnic.

Stef Liston, pastor at the Revelation Church who came up with the idea, said: “As local churches we want to serve the community and demonstrate the love of Christ in very practical ways.”

Simon Tarry, lead organiser of the event, said: “We urged the churches in the borough to get together and do something special. It’s got a very positive response from the public.”