THE Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) is to return in October for its first show since the pandemic began.

It will take place between 12 and 14 October at Sandown Park, in Esher, Surrey.

The organisers are sending out 30,000 brochures which provide information about the three-day programme. New resources will be available in areas which include financial management, fund-raising, new technology, social media, streaming, and youth and children’s work, the organisers say.

More than 50 seminars are scheduled to take place. These include several seminars on the legacy of the Windrush generation; speakers will include the former regional director of the London Baptist Association, the Revd David Shosanya, and the musician Ken Burton.

A day-long event on the second day of the exhibition (13 October) will be hosted by the Revd Cindy Kent and will mark the 50th anniversary of the Arts Centre Group. Guests will include Frank Williams, who played the Revd Timothy Farthing in Dad’s Army, and Sue Hodge, who played the waitress Mimi Labonq in Allo ’Allo!

The owner of the exhibition, Steve Goddard, said this week: “Hundreds of churches have harnessed new technology during the pandemic, reaching countless thousands who would never darken their doors on a Sunday. A number of specialist exhibitors, helping churches with live streaming on a weekly basis, will help others take the next steps. While the ‘old normal’ might feel comfortable, this ‘new different’ is the future.”

He continued: “Discovering resources online has been especially important during the pandemic, but nothing is better than meeting the person behind the product, the people behind the project. Face to face beats mouse to mouse, every time.”

The organisers have moved part of the exhibition from the main Surrey Hall to the Esher Hall, which has wider aisles, to aid social distancing. “Other possible safety measures will depend on government stipulations at the time,” they said.

For more information and to book, visit www.creonline.co.uk.