Messy Church: Engaging families and young people
A creative, Christ-centred way to grow worshipping communities and engage all ages
MESSY CHURCH IS A WAY of being a church that is Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration. The concept has been around for 21 years and is a tried and tested way of engaging people who might not normally come to church, taking them on an intergenerational discipleship journey together.
(This webinar was recorded in March 2026. Don’t worry if you missed it — the recording is available below.)
In this webinar, you’ll meet the team from Messy Church and explore:
- The Messy Church core values
- The Messy Church story
- Messy Church in your local context
- Frequently asked questions and myth-busters
- How to get started
You’ll also hear from clergy and Messy Church leaders who share real-life experiences from areas of deprivation, rural contexts and school settings.
Finally, you will hear about recent developments, including Messy Church Goes Wild and our new Messy Momentum project, which seeks to support young people as they grow up within Messy Church.
Watch the webinar recording below:
Next Steps
After watching the webinar and gathering all this information, you may be wondering: what next? Here’s a simple guide to help you on your way:
- Share it around
Find someone in your church to talk it through with. Who could you share this with? - Visit the Messy Church website
There’s lots of information about training, resources, and the Messy Church support network. - Find a Messy Church near you
Click “Find a Messy Church” on the homepage to discover one nearby, and go and visit to see it in action! - Start a Messy Church
Click “Start a Messy Church” for everything you need to know to get going. - Check for micro-grants
If you’re in one of the 25% most deprived parishes in England, you may be eligible for a bundle of resources and a micro-grant to help launch your Messy Church. - Sign up for a masterclass
Messy Church offers free, interactive online masterclasses twice a month. It’s a great next step after watching the webinar. They also offer bespoke training for individual churches or groups of churches, which could provide a supportive way of connecting with others in your diocese.
And finally… pray, discern, and see what God places on your heart!
As you explore Messy Church, please also be aware that from Autumn 2026 there will be a £25 annual registration fee. This helps support and grow Messy Church into the future, keeping you connected to the national network, regional support and gatherings, and a wide range of resources and encouragement. It also enables the development of Regional Teams, training, research, and shared learning across the movement.
Find out more about the registration fee here.
And don’t forget to visit their website:
