Date and venue announced for Methodist Conference 2011

In 2011, the Methodist Conference will be heading northwest toSouthport, from 30 June to 7 July.

The Methodist Conference is the governing body of the MethodistChurch and meets annually in June or July. Next year's Conferencewill be held in Portsmouth, from 24 June to 1 July, at thePortsmouth Guildhall.

Six months of searching for a suitable venue to bring the eventback to the north of England for 2011 have concluded with theSouthport Theatre and Convention Centre.

"This is a newly refurbished venue, well suited to the needs oftoday's Methodist Conference," said Ben Bradley, Connexional EventsCoordinator. "I'm excited by what Southport has to offer. Not onlydoes it boast all the best features of a Victorian resort town, butit has all the amenities the modern conference goer wouldexpect."

The opening ceremony of the Conference and Conference worship aredue to be held in the Southport Theatre Auditorium with a capacityfor seating over 1,600 people. Conference business sessions willtake place in the Art Deco Floral Hall in the adjoining conventioncentre.