As a church family, you probably plan lots of activities throughout the Summer, to enjoy the beautiful weather together and to take the opportunity to fellowship with all ages. These warm months are the ideal time to plan a Christian conference for your congregation. The kids are off school, the weather couldn’t be better, and there are many opportunities to grow closer to God and one another.
The Hayes couldn’t be in a better location to serve your church family as a space to meet, worship, and enjoy time together. Located on the outskirts of the Derbyshire Dales, this large manor house is equipped with the facilities you need to have a retreat to remember. So, keep on reading because in this article we cover everything The Hayes has to offer for church family summer conferences.
Accommodation for the whole family
On a church family retreat, there’s nothing more special than spending the entire day with your congregation and not having to worry about driving home. Worship as late as you want, play board games until midnight, or even enjoy a late-night walk around the grounds!
Being our largest conference venue, The Hayes can sleep over 450 people. There are several accessible rooms, many family rooms and lots of double and single rooms. We do not charge for single a supplement.
A double room at The Hayes.
Meeting spaces to worship in
Although there are many important factors of a conference, worship and teaching are usually the main focus. To do this right, you need a meeting room to fit your congregation and the audio/visual equipment to run each session. We have you covered!
The Hayes is home to 4 large conference halls, one of which can seat up to 400 people, and over 20 meeting rooms. Every meeting room has a TV and the larger spaces have sound boards with mics, DI boxes, and more on hand! We even have equipment you can use to livestream your event.
The Derbyshire Hall capable of seating up to 400 delegates theatre style.
Beautiful grounds
What is a conference venue without outdoor space to enjoy the summer weather in? The Hayes sits on 100 acres of award-winning gardens and grounds, surrounded by farmland.
With 2 lakes, an orchard, many trails to walk around, and a large sports field, there’s plenty of space for your church to explore during their stay. We are committed to supporting our local wildlife, so you’ll spot a variety of species down by the lakes.
Food and drink for fellowship
Let’s be honest, good food is extremely important for a successful church family conference. Mealtimes are key for fellowship and often, a way to make new friends or strike deep conversations.
The Hayes has dedicated the last few years to making the food and menu choices as delicious and diverse as possible. Guests are very impressed with the delicious choices they are given each day and the many fresh salads that accompany lunch meals.
Coffee is a close second in importance! In order to keep you going, our centres offer unlimited hot drinks throughout the day accompanied by cakes. You’ll be well looked after!
Fire pits
There’s nothing like toasting marshmallows over the fire on a warm summer’s evening. Outside under a big oak tree lie 3 large fire pits. We will provide the firewood and marshmallows, and you can provide the entertainment! Some guests like to share their favourite moments of their conference so far, while others enjoy an acoustic worship session by the fire
If this is something you’d like, you’ll need to book it in with the operations team ahead of your event.
Outdoor sports
We know how competitive our guests can be, so we’ve set up a 5-a-side football pitch on our sports field. There’s also a volleyball net and all the necessary equipment at reception to get your game on!
On the lawn near the main house, we have lawn games available to use such as croquet and badminton.
Indoor sports facilities
If it rains, you can use our sports hall with a choice of 5-a-side football, badminton, or basketball. All equipment is provided. If this is something you’d like, please book ahead of your event.
We have been serving churches with our conference venues for over 100 years and have become pretty good at it! If you’re interested in taking your church family away to The Hayes or one of our other venues, contact our sales team to get a tailored quotation today! Call 0300 111 4444 or click the button below to fill out our enquiry form.
