Rising Lights 2027
Gathering for five days by the coast to hear God's word, to praise our risen Saviour, and to rest. With plenty for adults, teens, and kids, alongside space to enjoy Torquay with friends and family.
Organised by FIEC but for everyone, Rising Lights is a chance for us to gather as God's people, to be refreshed, and to grow in our faith.
The week combines Bible teaching, topical seminars, evening celebrations and a variety of other activities. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, but nothing is compulsory; attend the sessions you want and take the space you need to reflect and recuperate.
We can’t promise sunshine, but the local area is nicknamed “the English Riviera” for a reason. It’s a beautiful place to explore with your church, your friends and your family, or to find some peaceful time-out on your own.
Programme
Our morning gatherings will include Bible teaching from 1 Peter, helping you to return home refreshed for the next season of your Christian walk.
Vibrant all-age worship will take place every afternoon before evening gatherings exploring the theme of light in the book of Isaiah.
Plus, there will be seminar tracks for adults along with a programme for children, youth, and students.
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Paul Mallard speaking at Rising Lights 2026
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Steve Robinson speaking at Rising Lights 2026
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Seminar at Rising Lights 2026
Bible ministry
God has "called us out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). So, how do we live in today's dark world with confidence in the light of our resurrection hope?
Jason Roach, (Mission Director, London City Mission) will preach from the book of 1 Peter in our Bible ministry gatherings each morning.
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Jason Roach speaking at the 2023 FIEC Leaders' Conference
Evening celebrations
The theme of light appears throughout the Bible, and in our evening celebrations we will be exploring what the book of Isaiah teaches us about it, encouraging our hearts with glorious gospel truth.
Speakers including Dave Gobbett, John Taylor, and Jo Dent will preach in the evenings:
- Jesus the light (Isaiah 42:1-9)
- God's people a light (Isaiah 60:1-3)
- The Lord our light (Isaiah 60:19)
Seminars, training hubs, drop-ins and tracks
Tracks run alongside the morning Bible ministry and cover topics including evangelism, the reliability of the Scriptures, caring for one another in church, and a Bible overview.
One-off seminars will take place in the afternoons including topics such as life in smaller churches, thriving as a young adult, and how to share our faith at work.
Track and seminar contributors will include Lizzy Smallwood, Nathan Weston, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Tony Watkins, and others.
There will be drop-ins for people in different stages of life to get to know others with similar experiences, such as ministry wives, medical professionals, and people considering church ministry.
Plus, training hubs for those serving in church will help to equip you to continue to serve at home, including those who serve in music, as small group leaders, or in administration.
We’re also excited that the dynamic duo Awesome Cutlery will be joining us for the whole event, helping us to worship Jesus in our all-age celebrations.
More details on the Bible teaching and seminars to be announced.
Youth and children's work
The morning Bible ministry will be reflected in the youth and children’s work, organised on our behalf by Growing Young Disciples. There will be groups for children from the age of six months up to 18 years.
- Pre-school
There will be a creche for those from six months old to two years (half morning session), and teaching groups for those aged 3-4 (full morning session from 9:30 until 12:30). - Primary school
Children aged 4-11 years old will be able to join group activities each day from 9:30 until 12:30, and 10-11s will also have an evening session. - Secondary school up to 18 years old
Children aged 11-18 years old will be able to join group activities from 9:30 until 12:30. There will also be early evening activities for this age group to attend.
We have limited capacity for around 900 under-18s. You will need to provide the details of any children when you book, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
What you can expect
We asked people at Rising Lights to tell us how they'd describe it
What's on
Enjoy Torquay
Life is busy. God’s people are busy at work, at home, and in the local church. Rising Lights is an opportunity to step away from the busyness for a few days of refreshment.
Whilst our programme is packed with good things, none of it is compulsory. There will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Torquay beach and harbour.
You could even use Rising Lights as a whole-church get-away. The teaching programme is sorted, so you can return refreshed for the next season of ministry together.
Some of the attractions and things to do nearby include:
- Torquay marina and harbour.
- Beaches including Torre Abbey Sands, Oddicombe Beach, Broadsands, or Meadfoot beach.
- The South West Coast Path for walks.
- Torre Abbey museum and gardens.
- Babbacombe Model Village and gardens.
- Kents Cavern prehistoric caves.
Merchandise
Shine like stars with Rising Lights merchandise - perfect to get ready for the Easter event.
There are t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and more available with the Rising Lights logo and other designs, for men, women, and children.
Please note: merchandise is an online exclusive and will not be available at Rising Lights itself.
Where to stay
Once you’ve booked your tickets for Rising Lights, you need to find somewhere to stay.
Torquay has a range of options for accommodation at all sorts of budgets: you can book to camp or bring your caravan, or you can choose to stay in a hotel, a bed and breakfast, or self-catering accommodation.
Even though the nearest camping and caravanning options are in Paignton, there is a regular bus service that runs every 12 minutes (every 30 minutes in the evening) along the coast road linking Paignton and Torquay, as well as a regular train service.
This means you can be in the centre of Torquay Harbour where Rising Lights is taking place in under half an hour – or in less than five minutes via train.
B&B and half-board
There are a limited number of half-board and bed & breadfast tickets available, including access to the whole event plus a four night stay at a hotel including food.
Bed and breakfast
- Single room at Abbey Sands Hotel: £400
- Twin or double room at Abbey Sands Hotel: £700
Dinner, bed, and breakfast
- Single room at Livermead House Hotel: £450
- Twin or double room at Livermead House Hotel: £875
Tickets are available from Thursday 3 September.
Find a place to stay
For more options, there are a whole host of accommodation options collated on Booking.com where accommodation for two adults during Rising Lights (four nights) starts at £197 (accessed 6/8/26).
How to get there
Travel by car
Getting to Torquay by car is both convenient and easy with access to the M5 motorway just 20 miles away. The M5 merges into the A38 and then the A380 which leads you directly to the town.
If you park at your accommodation, there are bus and train services into Torquay regularly through the day from nearby Paignton and further afield.
If you drive in, Torquay has several pay-and-display car parks managed by Torbay Council which you can use during Rising Lights. A 17-hour stay starts at £9.60.
You can purchase a four-day permit for £30 or an eight-day permit for £54. More details can be found on the Torbay Council website. Please check which car parks are included before you park.
Travel by train
Trains to Torquay take half an hour from Exeter, an hour from Plymouth, or around three hours from London, and the station is a short walk from our base at the Riviera International Centre.
Volunteer
We are looking for around 250 volunteers to help make Rising Lights happen in Torquay. There are a range of roles we need to fill: from welcoming and stewarding our venues through to supporting our youth and children’s provision.
Attendance is free for all volunteers, and we will also provide accommodation, three meals a day, a contribution towards travel (if needed), and a discount on one additional guest ticket (for a spouse or significant other).
Please note: volunteers will be allocated to shifts which may be at different times of the day and will not always be when there are children and youth groups taking place. If you are volunteering and coming with children, you are required to buy children's tickets for them. Call the FIEC office for instructions on how to do this and to get 25% off tickets for children of volunteers.
Volunteer to join our Welcome Team
Our Welcome Team will be a key part in ensuring the event runs smoothly. They will be working to provide a warm welcome to delegates at various venues, ensuring they have a good time and have any questions answered.
To join the Welcome Team you will need a big heart for serving others and be willing to work hard: it will be physically demanding as you will be on your feet for long hours. There will be opportunities to hear parts of the event programme whilst you are serving.
Attendance is free for all volunteers, and we will also provide accommodation, three meals a day, a contribution towards travel (if needed), and a discount on one additional guest ticket (for a spouse or significant other).
Please read the Welcome Team application pack before applying.
Volunteer to join our Kids & Youth Team
Our Kids & Youth Team helps under-18s grow in their knowledge and love of God and what he has done for them through Jesus Christ, through faithful, age-appropriate Bible teaching and discipleship.
We want to give them a fantastic week that is both fun and spiritually rich. You’ll be actively involved in engaging with the children and young people: getting stuck into crafts, games, activities, and teaching, encouraging them to respond to God’s Word, praying with them, and pointing them to Jesus. Everything we do is in partnership with and in support of the local church.
Team members should have recent relevant age-appropriate experience of working with under 18s, ideally within a church context, and have enthusiasm for teaching under 18s the Bible and the love of God.
Attendance is free for all volunteers, and accommodation plus three meals a day will also be provided (if needed).
Please read the Children and Youth Team application pack before applying.
Volunteer to join our Production Team
The Production Team is a key part of Rising Lights, helping delegates get the most out of their time.
You will work alongside and under the supervision of external professional contractors to help facilitate some of the technical requirements of the week, including:
- Operating sound desks.
- Liaising with session hosts and speakers.
- Loading and unloading vans.
- Moving furniture, staging, and other seating.
Attendance is free for all volunteers, and accommodation plus three meals a day will also be provided (if needed).
More details and how to apply to be confirmed.
Volunteer to join our Media Team
The Media Team's mission is to show what Rising Lights is like using photography, video, and social media.
Working as part of a team including staff and professional artists, you will be involved in recording and creating media during the week, including:
- Photography of speakers, seminars, and other activities.
- Creating social media content for during the event and afterwards.
- Editing talks and seminars to publish online for others to watch or listen to.
Attendance is free for all volunteers, and accommodation plus three meals a day will also be provided (if needed).
More details and how to apply to be confirmed.
Prices & booking
Rising Lights takes place from Monday 29 March to Friday 2 April 2027. Registration on Monday opens at 14:30 with the first celebration starting at 19:30. The week finishes on Friday at around 15:30, after the final celebration.
Event tickets
Event tickets give access to the full event programme:
- £185 for adults.
- £60 for students in full-time education.
- £60 for children aged 6 months - 18 years (in school).
- Free for 0-5 months (no provision for this age group).
Children's ages are taken as of Monday 29 March, 2027. You must book your own accommodation.
Day tickets
For local visitors, you can book a ticket to cover the programme for a single day for £60 per person per day. This does not include children or youth provision.
Accommodation tickets
There are a limited number of half-board and bed & breadfast tickets available, including access to the whole event plus a four night stay at a hotel including food.
Bed and breakfast
- Single room at Abbey Sands Hotel: £400
- Twin or double room at Abbey Sands Hotel: £700
Dinner, bed, and breakfast
- Single room at Livermead House Hotel: £450
- Twin or double room at Livermead House Hotel: £875