Last Thursday evening, Bishop’s Lodge welcomed 40 young adults from across the Bedfordshire Archdeaconry for a vibrant evening of food, fellowship, and conversation. Building on the success of last year’s gathering, this year’s supper party saw increased attendance, with many new faces joining some returning young adults.
Hosted by Bishop Richard and the Revd Josias de Souza of St Francis Church, Luton, the evening offered a warm and welcoming space for young adults to connect across church communities. Over a shared meal, participants reflected on their experiences of church life, exploring what it means to be a younger person in today’s church.
Attendees were either nominated by their parish clergy or are part of The Alban Way cohorts based in Bedfordshire. The event forms part of the diocese’s ongoing commitment to becoming younger and more diverse, and was received with great enthusiasm.
Looking ahead, there is strong interest in continuing these conversations and hosting similar gatherings in the future. With indoor space at full capacity, the team are considering a summer event next year to make the most of the garden at Bishop’s Lodge.
One young adult in attendance, John Braithwaite, told us:
“The evening was a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to share food and faith with people in a similar stage of life. It was fantastic to see the Church being so welcoming and extending that by helping form a young adult community in the local area. It made me feel seen and accepted.”
Grace Jukes, also present, commented:
“The Young Adults event at Bishop’s Lodge was fantastic. It can be really difficult to meet other young Christian people, so having a structured environment like this where we were able to share a meal together and discuss life, the Bible and church was so valuable. The short ice breaker and bible study were really fun and meaningful ways to connect!”
Opportunities for young adults coming up include:
The Alban Way – a year-long programme, focused on equipping and forming disciples and young leaders through practice-based teaching sessions, designed to work around regular work or study. For more details and to register your interest for the next course, beginning in February 2026, please visit the website.