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Big Church Day Out cancels due to coronavirus

by Ruth Sax

Christian festival Big Church Day Out (BCDO) is the latest big Christian event to cancel because of the pandemic.

Organisers announced the festival - due to take place in May in West Sussex, will be postponed until next year.

Founder Tim Jupp told Premier: "It's not an easy decision. But this decision has kind of been made for us, in this climate with everything that's going on. 

"As much as it's incredibly difficult for us, and we're sorry for the people who were going to come to BCDO this year, I'm just so aware that this affecting everybody, almost on a global level now, particularly in this country. I mean, it's extraordinary.
 
"And yes, it's hard for us, but I realise it's hard for many, many thousands of people, people on all sorts of different levels."

A statement on the BCDO website reads: "It is with great sadness and disappointment that we have to announce that due to the current UK epidemic of coronavirus and recent government advice, the Big Church Day Out 2020 has been cancelled. BCDO will gather again on May 29-30th 2021.

"This has never been the outcome that any of us would have wanted. We are completely gutted. We had the most amazing dreams and plans for this May and such a vision of bringing the church together again.

"This leaves us in the most precarious financial position with the cancellation costing BCDO more than £500,000. We spend all year paying our full time staff team, marketing the event, incurring operational costs for the charity, and many other expenses that are now unrecoverable. Our insurance policies do not cover these extraordinary circumstances.

"If you have purchased a BCDO 2020 ticket you will have received an email explaining what happens next. 

"This now presents to all of us the opportunity to demonstrate BCDO's greatest moment of unity, and stand together at this time to create incredible possibilities for thousands of lives for many more years to come.

"I know that almost everyone will be affected by the impact of coronavirus, and we are praying for you in these difficult times. Please pray for our team and all involved, as we navigate our way through this and work towards an amazing future for us all at the Big Church Day Out."

Tim Jupp urged people to above all "continue to pray" and said BCDO would continue to update their website with information in the coming weeks. 
 

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