Anthem Worship Workshop for Young People

A two-day worship leading workshop for young people aged 11 to 18 runs at Holywood Parish Church on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026, organised by the Diocese of Down and Dromore. The Anthem programme introduces teenagers to the basics of leading worship: why churches sing, how a worship team works together, and hands-on time on instruments and sound or visual technology. The two days run from 10am to 4pm, finishing on the second afternoon with a short showcase for parents at 4:45pm.

What to expect

Anthem is run by the diocese’s music and worship team for teenagers who already play an instrument, sing, or have an interest in sound and visual production for church services, though no prior experience leading worship is required. Across the two days, small groups work through the practical questions any worship team has to answer: choosing songs that fit a service, building a simple set list, playing together rather than over each other, and running the desk for sound or screens without it becoming a distraction. Leaders draw on experience from parishes across the diocese rather than a single big-name act. Lunch is provided both days, and the workshop closes on the Tuesday afternoon with a short performance so parents and home churches can see what the group has put together. The subsidised fee of £60 covers both days, materials and food; bursary places are available for families who ask.

Getting there

Holywood is on the A2 between Belfast and Bangor, fifteen minutes from Belfast city centre by car. Holywood railway station is on the Bangor line, with trains roughly every twenty minutes from Belfast Grand Central, and the church is a short walk from the town centre. Translink’s Ulsterbus 1 also runs along the same corridor between Belfast and Bangor.

While you’re in Holywood

Holywood’s High Street runs downhill from the church toward the only permanent maypole in Ireland, planted at the crossroads since a Dutch ship is said to have run aground nearby around 1700. There is more to see in Holywood and across Co. Down.

Good to know

• Dates: Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026, 10am to 4pm, with a parent showcase at 4:45pm on the Tuesday
• Venue: Holywood Parish Church, Holywood
• Ages 11 to 18; no previous worship-leading experience needed
• Price: £60, including lunch both days; bursary places available on request
• Booking: via Eventbrite