Greenbelt Festival – where arts, faith and justice meet – returns for the 41st consecutive year in a new home, the stunning grounds of Boughton House, one week today. Alongside music from Grammy award-winning acts Sinead O’Connor, The Hummons and Tinariwen, Luke Sital-Singh, Jahmene Douglas, Stornoway, Lau, Gilles Peterson and many more musicians, artists, comedians & performers, Greenbelt hosts a broad and challenging programme of ideas, conversation and debate. 

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Over 300 contributors create 800 hours of programming for 15,000 visitors, including:

Can we reimagine marriage? hosted by Vicky Beeching examines the future for the institution in the light of changing laws and society, and Rachel Mann hosts We’re not an issue, we’re a gift, a conversation about what the LGBT community brings to the church.

Owen Jones discusses the portrayal of welfare culture on TV with Kieran Smith, producer of Benefits Street in Poor TV and also speaks on The Politics of Hope. Sarah Teather MP talks about Political Baggage and the Migrant’s Journey; Rev Mpho Tutu talks on the necessity of forgiveness for a healthy society, and Alistair McIntosh looks at What’s Happening in Scotland?

Greenbelt aims to connect with people around the world struggling for justice and peace and provide a stage for voices to be heard. Palestinian pastor Dr Mitri Raheb speaks on Faith in the Face of Empire, Michael Northcott looks at A Political Theology of Climate Change and Lidy Nacpil issues an urgent challenge to join activists in the southern hemisphere in fighting for climate justice.

Religion in public and private will be a theme throughout, as Linda Woodhead looks at The Crisis of Religion in the UK, American pastor Brian McLaren asks What Will Religion Become? and Sarfraz Manzoor offers Confessions of a bad Muslim and reflections on mixed-faith marriage. An hour of talks curated by Abdul-Rehman Malik lifts the lid on myths about Islam including How Not To Be Terrified By Shariah and How To Eat Halal Without Causing the Downfall of Western Civilisation.

With sessions examining the future of banking to the criminal justice system to mental health to modern dating and much more, if it matters, Greenbelt is talking about it. The festival is also delighted to welcome back Clare Balding and Diane Louise Jordan, broadcasting for Radio 2.

All events take place at Boughton House, Northamptonshire, 22nd – 25th August 2014. 

Greenbelt festival started in 1974 and has a vision to engage with culture, be inspired by the arts and sustained by faith. Greenbelt aspires to be an open, generous community reimagining the Christian narrative for the present, with an inclusive approach and wide-reaching, all-age and multi-disciplinary programming. “A Glastonbury shaped by the Gospel” - The Times.