About Us:

From the brochure - "Whithaugh Park (pronounced Whittoff) is an estate of about 100 acres just outsides Newcastleton, in Roxburghshire, Scotland, about 25 miles from Carlisle.

Crusaders again have sole use of the grounds for their holiday week where there is a lake, climbing tower, assault course, indoor swimming pool, sports hall, BMX track, football & volleyball pitches and wooded areas for paintballing! Everyone sleeps in log cabins, which accommodate from 9 to 11 persons, including leaders. There are four dining halls and also recreational cabins for table tennis, pool and snooker."

From taking a minibus full of kids to a nationally-run Crusader holiday in the Borders, Scotland with an average attendance of only 60 lonely people to leading one of the most popular and successful youth camps in the UK, Norman and Pam Taylor have reinvented a 20th century activity-holiday many thought would not be able to compete in the 21st century.

Whithaugh Park, near Newcastleton in the Borders, is run by the Barnabas Trust, a pretty good Christian organisation with different centres across the UK. Yet we can say with a certain amount of insider nudge-nudge info that Whithaugh has no other week like ours, and usually need another week just to recover!! Since the Taylor first excursion there in 1991, and subsequent appointment to co-run the event in 1992, and finally sole leadership in 1994, Whithaugh Crusaders has certainly gone from strength to strength ...

Did you know that it wasn't until 1994 that Crusaders finally had complete control over the site, having to share the cabins, main hall and pool with smaller groups in previous years? Coincidentally, it has only been since 1994 that the West Pelton activity instructor team have been based on-site - imagine Whithaugh without the big lake ... or abseil tower ... or paintball area. It was all just grass and the old bike hill!

Not just a Borders/North-East oriented event, many groups arrive each year from Huddersfield, Stoke, Woking, Belfast and even further afield - Poland and Lithuania just two examples!! Crusaders week each August continues to grow in numbers year after year, with a bulging 'waiting list' to testify the holiday's popularity.

"Crusaders week at Whithaugh Park has become much more than a holiday to all involved - it is more like an experience," added Norman Taylor. "We are proud to be one of the biggest Christian holiday camps in the UK, and strive to be the best! Each year Whithaugh gets better in each and every way - we even have professional caterers now, because you can't beat a good burgers and chips meal can you?!"

Whithaugh Crusaders is proud to be non-denominational. We have a lively, genuine, yet prayerful worship, and sound Bible-based teaching, with leaders from every church denomination throughout the UK, yet Whithaugh always has been and always will be a success - reaching the needs of all and never falling short. Truly it is the benchmark for 'the church' in the 21st century - a place of true reunification for the Christian church - and, important of all, inspired by the youth of today. We share our statement of faith with many, many other Christian organisations; click to read a further detailed explanation.

Terms & Conditions:

Please email us if there is anything within our site that you would like to use or pass onto others, to help your youth group, church or other. You are allowed to browse through our site and include links within your own website to any of our webpages that you feel might be helpful to your visitors and other web-surfers. Members Area - Sorry, but access to this area is reserved for those who have attended a Crusaders week at Whithaugh Park in the last 5 years.

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