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Messy Church is a type of fresh expression of Church that has developed within and across a number of denominations in the UK and further abroad, primarily affiliated with the Anglicans and Methodists. It is characterised by efforts to be creatively engaging and family-friendly. There are roughly 3800 Messy Churches across twenty countries,^[1] making it the most common form of fresh expression.^[2]

Description[edit]

Messy Church was originated in 2004 as a family outreach initiative from St Wilfrid's Church in Cowplain, Hampshire.^[3] Its success and simplicity led to resources being developed by the Bible Reading Fellowship so that other churches could run similar things, the intention broadly being to create Messy Churches as new fresh expressions of Church, though congregations vary in how much they apply this intentionality.^[4]

All Messy Churches are distinguishable by adherence to these five practical and theological values:^[5]

Christ-centred: it is a church that helps people encounter Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
All-age: it is for adults and children to enjoy together. Every element aims to be relevant and accessible to all ages.
Celebration: it reflects a God of joy who wants his people to have life in all its fullness.
Hospitality: it is outward-facing, welcoming everybody to enjoy the hospitality and unconditional love of God.
Creativity: it reflects the creativity of God in its imaginative hands-on approach to being church together.

Arts and crafts are typical activities, but Messy Churches have been known to use science, sports, nature, and cookery to help families explore Christian life.

Reception[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

^ Messy Church Directory, https://www.messychurch.org.uk/messy-churches
^ The Day of Small Things, https://www.churcharmy.org/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=204265
^ https://www.messychurch.org.uk/story-messy-church
^ Painting With Numbers, https://churcharmy.org/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=224311
^ https://www.messychurch.org.uk/our-values

External links[edit]

Messy Church official website
Playfully Serious: Research into Messy Church

Category:Church of England Category:Methodism Category:Church of England societies and organisations Category:Anglicanism Category:Christian missionary societies

[1] Messy Church Directory, https://www.messychurch.org.uk/messy-churches

[2] The Day of Small Things, https://www.churcharmy.org/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=204265

[3] ttps://www.messychurch.org.uk/story-messy-church

[4] Painting With Numbers, https://churcharmy.org/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=224311

[5] ttps://www.messychurch.org.uk/our-values

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