CHURCHES in Melksham are reviving a tradition not seen in the town for over 60 years. The Christian community will come together to host the Melksham Convention for the first time since 1940.

Taking place at the Assembly Hall, it begins next Friday and runs until the Sunday. The Convention will feature bible talks, prayer sessions, music and joint worship.

John Firth, who is helping organise the event, said the idea for holding it came about at a community prayer session. "Myself and some of the other church leaders in the town were at a prayer group, when for some reason during our prayers, the Melksham Convention cropped up," he said. At the time none of us at the meeting knew this event had taken place in the past, yet we felt called to do it. "We are sure the Lord was giving us the idea."

When the organisers announced plans for the convention, some of Melksham's older residents came forward to reveal it had taken place each year between 1894 and 1940.

Though few could remember these meetings, the Wiltshire Times, which ran a story on the convention every year, helped the organisers find out more. George Stratton, whose family owned the largest grocery business in the town, started the original Melksham Convention. In the early 1890's, Mr Stratton and his wife visited the famous Keswick Convention in the Lake District, which has been going for over 130 years.

Inspired, the Strattons decided to start something similar in Melksham and, beginning in 1894, they put up two marquees in their orchard each summer and invited famous Christian leaders to come and speak.

The convention attracted people from all over Wiltshire and across the south west.

By 1906 almost 1,000 people were attending the event, and between the wars crowds reached 1,500. Organisers said they are expecting a strong turnout again this year as Christians in Melksham have always placed a strong emphasis on working together, regardless of which church they attend.

Mr Firth said: "We would like there to be thousands of people, but we are hoping for hundreds. We are open to everyone from the area."

Talks will be based on the book of Nehemiah, in the Old Testament, and leaders from churches in the town will address the meeting.

  • An open invitation has gone out to all who would like to attend and no registration is necessary. For more details call John Firth on (01225) 707387.