Continuous outing tradition since the 1920s — annual UK day-trip [Current coordinator — to confirm]

The Church Outing Team plans HBC’s annual day-trip — a coach trip somewhere fun in the UK, open to all members, families, and friends of the church. This year’s destination is Great Yarmouth, with two coaches confirmed for July and a third under consideration.

The church outing tradition at HBC is one of its longest-running. The 1920s scrapbook records multiple outings:

Easter Monday 1927 — Easter Monday Outing to Chipperfield; over 140 people gathered by evening; travel was by private bus, cycle and train

Whit Monday 1927 — Whitsun Outing to Windsor; over 140 attended by bus, train and cycle; the day included Windsor Castle precincts and a two-hour river steamer trip

9 July 1927 — Young Men’s Guild Outing to Rickmansworth; 22 attended; cricket, tea at Beasley’s, rounders, rowing at Batchworth Lake, clock golf

14 July 1928 — Young Men’s Guild returned to Rickmansworth; 22 attended; cricket in shade temperatures over 80 degrees, tea at Beasley’s, bathing, boating and putting

The pattern of substantial summer outings continued through the decades. The 1990 Centenary year included a Church Outing to Bournemouth (Saturday 28 July 1990). The outing has become a recurring summer fixture — an opportunity for fellowship across the generations, for visitors and friends to spend a relaxed day with HBC, and a quiet act of pastoral hospitality on a coach.

The 2015 booklet records: “We have seen a sharp rise in attendance on outings to the seaside outside London and trips abroad organized by the Wednesday Group, and outings organized by the Church.”

Sources: [125th] p. 44 (outings as community-building); [Scrap] (1927–1928 outings); [Centenary] p. 27 (1990 Bournemouth outing); [Web History] (2026 Great Yarmouth).