YOUTH leaders brought together church youth groups from Stubbington to Emsworth, and from Purbrook to Portsmouth in the grounds of Portchester Castle for an end-of-year celebration.

‘High Tide at Portchester Castle’ was a celebration of all God has done in the past year of High Tide youth services. These regular events bring together church youth groups for games, worship, prayer and input in a variety of local venues.  

This celebration brought together around 100 young people aged 11-18 for an incredible evening of exhilarating games, live music, barbecue food – and the chance to encounter God.

On a perfect summer’s evening, they duelled in inflatable sumo suits, rode a mechanical bucking bronco, designed their own mugs, and enjoyed the Big Noise samba band. Volunteers from the charity Spirit in Sport provided a variety of sports challenges, and the St Mary’s Tea Rooms cooked burgers and sausages.

Crookhorn youth leaders Clare and Nathan Hargreaves led team games that involved teenagers dousing each other with water – a relief, given how hot it was. Then a worship band from St Mary’s, Portchester, led a time of worship on a stage constructed outside the church.

They heard from 19-year-old Storm Hargreaves, originally from Church of the Good Shepherd, Crookhorn, about her time serving God in the Middle East. She challenged the young people to believe that they too can hear and respond to God’s voice.

As this was the final youth service before school holidays, they ended with an after-party – with a Spanish DJ, Jesus Macchia, playing some tunes inside the historic St Mary’s Church.