The week went by in a bit of a blur and yet another 2026 heatwave with several opportunities to catch up with friends, doing some pastoral supervision related work for the course and some personal admin. I finally vanquished the tax return, the Clergy HLC stuff and some much needed paperwork in relation to one of my historic pensions! I also did some more sorting and tidying in my bedroom and the kitchen/utility room.
My energy levels are beginning to move in a more positive direction, which is pleasing and I have been sleeping better despite ongoing heat issues!! I had the stitches out on Thursday, and the scar on my face isn’t very visible which is a relief (for my vanity at least!).
Dominating my consciousness this week has been preparing for and then really enjoying the 50th anniversary celebrations for Hilfield Youth Camp, which took place on Saturday 15th August in the afternoon. Youth Camp is one of the few places where I was definitely known as ‘Ali’. These days I am mostly Alison!
Preparation wise, I dug out lots of old photos – scanned a few for the shared photo archive and looked at my Hilfield paperwork/memorabilia file containing stuff from most of the camps I attended (and a lot from the four where I was one of the overarching leadership team).
All in all I attended Hilfield Youth camp from 1984 – 1991 and then 1993 – 1998 and yet again as chaplain in 2005. After the first couple of years, in 1986 and 1987 I was a young leader with a work group (alligators and all sorts!), and then administrator and treasurer from 1988 – 1991. The admin stuff was fine and a skill set I recognise – being treasurer too was a trial and was really not my gift!
My archive file laid testament to a lot of it being done in the post and lots of handwritten letters. In fact, I can remember the first year we added email addresses to the address list! (in days pre-GDPR of course!), which was after my stint as administrator. Hard to imagine no email these days!
At the start of my second stint at camp in 1993, after one year’s rest, I was on the adult team. In 1995, I became one of the main hosts and did that role for four camps (this was the first time the hosts weren’t a married couple). I appear to have documented a lot of meetings, policies and even the top ten tips for surviving youth camp! (When I returned to camp just after being priested in 2005 as one of the chaplains, I was most amused the last of those were still being used!). In 2005, I presided at a Eucharist on the camp site (bucket list item ticked!), and sub-deaconed in the Friary chapel
To say my experiences at Hilfield Youth Camp changed my life is a massive understatement. In my more recent job applications, I have written this of those times.
I challenge myself to ‘live’ the gospel and provide an example of a flourishing life. A significant theological influence over many years has been my contact and work with Anglican Franciscans, particularly in their simplicity and focus on Jesus. My personal history includes four years leading at the Hilfield Friary Youth Camp and many years involved in the leadership team. There we fostered an ethos where the young people were accepted and experienced the strengths of true Christian fellowship through building life-changing relationships as a community. The inherent approach was to explore their faith experientially and at their own pace. This has widely informed my ministry.
That ministry would not have happened without these experiences too! At the end of camp in 1998, I went out for lunch with 2 of my dearest friends (you know who you are!), both priests in the Church of England. Their intent was to talk to me about whether I should think about my vocation to the priesthood. They didn’t know I had already had stirrings of that sort, but hadn’t talked to anyone about them. Their input gave me the impetus to talk to my Vicar when I got back. He said – “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that Alison” but hadn’t found an occasion!
I didn’t rush at the process as there was a lot to work through – it was a very big change from my career in IT and it wasn’t until 2001/2002 that I finally went through the rigours of the Church of England selection.
To say that I have very close and important friendships through all things Hilfield Youth Camp is another massive understatement. The weekend brought time to stay with some of them, and see some of the most valued and valuable, as well as meet the current generation and some lovely campers from across the years.
It was fantastic to see 42 years on from my first camp, it is still a place where young people were cherished, valued and loved as they are and that through faith there is hope and joy in this life. It was such a privilege to preside at the special celebratory Eucharist in the Friary Chapel (another bucket list item ticked!) and it was very, very holy and special. The presence of the Holy Spirit was epic! Apologies for forgetting the Lord’s prayer in the heat of the moment, and also not recognising one of the campers past that I should have known.
These days someone calling me ‘Ali’ is generally from the Youth Camp experience or related to it, and takes me there pretty rapidly! I need to relish the creative and imaginative gifts of my Hilfield Youth Camp ‘Ali’ years (as well as the process/spiritual leadership stuff that flourished there) and let it all flow as part of who I am. Maybe I should be a little more ‘Ali’ in the days ahead!?
To all those who made 50 years of Hilfield Youth Camp possible, and this weekend’s celebration – a very Big thank you!
For 50 years of Hilfield Youth Camp I give thanks to God, Father, Son and especially through the power of the Holy Spirit. For all that has been, for all that is and all that will be. Amen
The Adventures of Alison 