Tearfund quiz night attracts thousands

More than 22,000 people from 500+ UK churches took part in Tearfund’s first Big Quiz Night (17 November). The nationwide, multi-venue fundraising event was held in support of some of the poorest communities around the world

Quiz goers from South Wales to the Shetlands and Bournemouth to Belfast, pitted their wits against each other In the name of fighting poverty. They were encouraged to make a suggested £5 donation to take part, with funds going towards Christian international relief and development charity Tearfund’s work in more than 50 countries around the world.

Churches were supplied with a resource pack, including a ready-made film in which Tearfund ambassadors presented the questions, meaning groups large and small were able to take part on an equal footing. Categories included general knowledge, food and drink, geography, film and TV, sport and music, and were conveyed with help from rap artist Guvna B, baker Tom Herbert, Olympic rower Peter Chambers and MP Stephen Timms.

St John's Church, Neville's Cross, Durham, was one of many who linked up to Tearfund’s online dashboard on the night, which displayed the number of attendees nationwide. One of their participants said: ‘The totaliser wowed everyone and they all said how it was wonderful to feel part of something that we were doing all together across the nation!’

Dozens of Baptist churches took part, including Parkstone Baptist Church in Poole, Dorset. Minister Paul Holmes said, 'About 40 of us (aged 10 to 90) had a fun evening. We boggled at quite a lot of the questions. Example: ‘What is the word for apple in Portuguese?’ stumped everyone, except for two of us who are former BMS Brazil personnel.

'We tucked into chilli, rice and garlic bread and raised well over £300 for Tearfund. It was good to feel that we were part of something live and wide. The live updates through the evening helped create a sense of connection. It be would good to have many more churches joining in as the Big Quiz was well worth supporting.'

Tearfund’s Fundraising Director Jane Pleace said, ‘We wanted to make life easy for churches large and small by presenting them with a ready-made way to have an evening of fun.

'Hundreds responded and thousands of people were entertained, in groups ranging from four to over 160. Tearfund will be able to use the funds raised to bring transformation to the lives of people like Areej from Syria, who has been living in a tent in a refugee camp in Lebanon with her family for seven years.’  

Jane added, ‘Churches who like to plan ahead may want to keep Saturday 16 November 2019 free for next year’s Big Quiz Night!’

Tearfund Big Quiz Night in progress at St Stephen’s Church, Twickenham
 

To register your interest for The Big Quiz Night 2019, visit the Tearfund website.

Did you church take part in the Big Quiz? How did it go? Let us know!