Mayor Boris Johnson to launch a week of church-based entertainment and volunteering

Published: 20th May, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson will launch a church-based free festival called Soul in the City at the end of the month which will combine entertain­ments with opportunities for voluntary work. 

Islington resident Mr Johnson will switch on ceremonial lights for the start of the event outside St Mary’s Church, Upper Street, on May 31 at 7pm.

The festival will include theatre productions, barbecues and street parties, film-making workshops, gardening projects, performances from international rappers and dance troupes, a talent contest, as well as sports competitions with an emphasis on football, basketball and cricket. There will also be an oppor­tunity to volunteer for environmental work, including clean-up campaigns.

The week will conclude with a weekend of family fun days at various church and council estate locations as well as a football penalty shoot-out session hosted by Arsenal Positive Futures. 

The festival, sponsored by a variety of businesses, will involve hundreds of volunteers from Islington churches, including St Mary’s Church, Upper Street; House On The Rock, Tufnell Park; King’s Cross Church, Pentonville Road; and St Mary Magdalene, Holloway and Tollington Parish. The Revd Simon Harvey, vicar of St Mary’s Church said: “The aim is simply to have fun and to meet and make friends with our neighbours.”

• Soul in the City runs from Tuesday May 31-Sunday June 5, throughout the borough. Find out more at www.soulinthecity.uk.com