Church karaoke and heated pews at Christian show

Juliet Hemingway with grey hair wearing a flower-patterned dress and holding a yellow clerical cloak with a large cross embroidered onto it.Image source, Christian Resources Exhibition
Image caption,

Juliet Hemingway will be exhibiting bright and beautiful clerical textiles

  • Published

Ecclesiastical karaoke and clergy fashion are among the offerings going on display at an event on Wednesday.

The Christian Resources Exhibition, often described as the "Ideal Church Show", will be appearing to the masses at the Marshall Arena, external in Milton Keynes.

It also features things like heated pews and Biblical puppets.

It will be opened by a multi world record-holding footballer.

Image source, Christian Resources Exhibition
Image caption,

Hannah Fleming-Hill, a Christian "digital missioner", tries her hand at prayerful puppetry

The Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) started life in 1985 and has been staged at several different venues over the year, but this is its first visit to Milton Keynes.

It is open to everyone but the organisers said it was "particularly helpful to those actively involved in a local church".

It is expected to attract about 2,000 visitors from all the major denominations to the purpose-built arena next to the MK Dons Stadium.

Image caption,

Daniel Cutting hopes to in-spire churchgoers with his record-breaking football skills

The show will be opened by Daniel Cutting, a professional football freestyler who holds ten Guinness world records and lives in Milton Keynes.

He runs a youth club with his wife at a church in the town and said: "I am particularly excited to do events in a Christian setting, using my gift to glorify God".

Steve Goddard, owner of CRE, said: "I am not quite sure how Daniel will open the exhibition but I guarantee it will be entertaining and yet another first for us and Daniel."

Image source, Christian Resources Exhibition
Image caption,

Joshua Whitehouse of Go Chatter Studios puts the final piece into a LEGO set for an animated Bible story

The event will include 160 organisations, displaying everything from ecclesiastical karaoke players to eco-friendly heated cushions and clergy clothing.

There will also be displays of contactless donation apps, which are becoming increasingly popular in churches in place of the familiar collection plate, and talks by well-known worship leaders.

The event takes place throughout Wednesday and Thursday.

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