What is Messy Church?

It's an occasion for all ages to spend time together being creative, worshipping and eating.

 

How did it begin?

A group at St Wilfrid's Church in Cowplain near Portsmouth held the first Messy Church in 2004.

 

Why?
They were frustrated because, as a church, they were hardly reaching any children with God's story. They decided very early on to try to do something for all ages together. This was partly out of a belief that we grow best as a church when we walk the journey with as many different people as possible, and partly from a desire to help families grow together in their walk of faith, not see Christianity as something you grow out of when you're eleven.

 

What does a typical Messy Church look like?
The first hour could be spent doing some ‘messy’ craft activities, like hand-painting a rainbow or sailing paper arks in a paddling pool. Everyone could then move into the worship area for a brief celebration with songs, a story (with puppets) and a prayer. Afterwards a meal is provided and shared together. A ‘takeaway sheet’ based on the theme gives families ideas to talk about at home. Messy Church could run after school or at the weekend.