URBAN SAINTS
(formerly Crusaders)
Who're they?
A national Christian youth organisation that celebrated it's 100th birthday in 2006. It's mission statement is:-
"To reach today's young people for Jesus Christ, engaging them in effective Christian living."
The Conwy group started 10 years ago, and is one of 16 in North Wales. It is supported by the local churches and St Mary's Church in Wales and St John's English Methodist both freely give the use of their premises for the regular, weekly club night.
Two sessions are held, a Juniors for Primary school-aged children, and a currently joint Inters/Seniors for Secondary school-aged young people.
As well as group activities, there are both area and national events, such as swimming, skating, multi-activity days, athletics, camps, houseparties, holidays and even overseas expeditions.
Crusoe (CRUSader Overseas Expeditions) provide an opportunity for young people
to see God's world in a new light, explore the richness of different cultures,
reach out to children and young people less fortunate than themselves and
experience a small taster of usefulness for God. The aim is that it will
be a life changing experience for the young people that go. It is more
than a 2 week experience (involving a practical project and opportunities to
take part in running children's clubs, youth work, Bible teaching and giving
personal testimony) in the summer, it is a whole year discipleship experience.
We at last got our first Wales Crusoe Albania off the ground, which included 2 weeks in
the country during July/August 2008 - the team consisting of 3 adults
(myself and two others) and 5 young people aged 14 to 16. Two of the
leaders were from Wales, but none of the young people!
Urban Saints own 3 holiday centres, one on the Isle of Wight, and two in Scotland.
For ten regular weekly attendances you earn the right to wear the Urban Saints badge - I earned mine in 1950 in what was then called Cruettes, but became as Mini-Crus. For 50 attendances an Urban Saints Bible is awarded.
In the 1950's their headquarters were at the prestigious address, 1 Ludgate Hill, right opposite St Paul's Cathedral, in London. Later it moved to St Albans and in 2003 to it's present location in Luton (now known as the Support Centre). Our patron is Sir Cliff Richard and our president is Steve Chalke.
There are two national websites, so do take a look at both:
