A Reflection on Greenbelt

by Niamh Hardman

Through wind and rain, Greenbelt Festival was once again a ray of sunshine for me.

Greenbelt is all about “Artistry, activism and belief” and you may think that to get a balance of the three relies on a person to select what they will attend from the line-up in a purposefully diverse way. I used to try and do just that. I analyzed the line-up, made sure I had a few talks scheduled in advance, as well as a good mix of workshops, and seeing the headlining musical artists too, of course. This year was different. With volunteering hours, and bringing my partner for the first time, I wasn’t on a military schedule like before. The result of that was seeing things I wouldn’t personally have prioritized – and everything still encompassed artistry, activism, and belief. Greenbelt isn’t all about the programmed headliners. It seems like this year particularly, Greenbelt has promoted the magic that happens at the fringes of the festival; quite literally with the return of the ‘Fringe Venue’, in the use of livestreaming in the ‘No Fly Zone’ and the support shown to those who organized grassroots activities. It’s the fringes of the festival that have had a lasting impact on me.

Greenbelt used to be one of the only spaces where I felt fully myself, where everyone is wonderfully different, but also really gets *it*. And being there this year has made me realize just how grateful I am to be able to now have a life year-round that reflects even a snippet of Greenbelt’s diversity, theology, and overall values. This year, and of course this festival, has been re-energizing.

With this year’s theme: ‘Dream On’, I have found I have been given further resources to formulate and articulate my own dreams. On the stall in the ‘Takeaway’ (Greenbelt’s exhibition space for partners and contributors) Modern Church asked, “what would your dream church look like?”.

Thanks to the Student Christian Movement and the Hope and Anchor, I was privileged to contribute to a lineup of “Young Voices”, in which I talked about bringing liberation theologies into intergenerational faith practice in Britain. In this I touched on national identity – or on the contrary, a lack thereof – and examined how ‘Britishness’ is used in problematic attempts to unify generations. I suggested that authentic intergenerational community, and practices that strengthen it, furthers liberation far more than an attempt to define and dictate a concise ‘Britishness’. My dream church is one that is truly intergenerational. By bringing together different generations, churches can create spaces where wisdom, traditions, and spiritual experiences can be shared, enriching the faith and benefiting the wellbeing of all members. These connections not only strengthen individual faith but also build a more resilient and inclusive community, where every member feels valued and supported. Authentic connection is a practice of liberation because it dismantles the social barriers that often segregate people based on age.

I find that at Greenbelt, and in my dream Church, wisdom, creativity and energy are exchanged freely.

Niamh Hardman is a student of Religions, Theology & Ethics at the University of Manchester, Coordinator of the Greater Manchester Student Christian Movement, and part of In-Solidarity Hulme