Messy Church: Starting new worshipping communities in areas of need
Watch how St. Mark’s Church in Downham, South-East London used Messy Church to support their local community
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO DOUBLE the number of children and young people in your church or start a new worshipping community – have you considered Messy Church?
Messy Church is a way of being a church, where everyone is welcome. Rooted in being Christ-centred, for all ages, creativity, hospitality and celebration, Messy Churches meet monthly at times that suit the community. They come in different shapes, sizes and can be found in cities, towns and villages, both indoors and outdoors.
In this video, meet the team at St. Mark’s Messy Church Downham, south-east London, an estate parish in one of the 10% poorest parishes in England. Hear their joys and challenges of estate ministry and how they have empowered their community to shape their Messy Church.
Partnerships and Support
BRF Ministries’ Messy Church team is working in partnership with the Church of England to help start new Messy Churches.
They can provide your church with training, resources and a support network to get you started. For those in the 25% most deprived parishes in England, they’re offering a bundle of resources and a micro-grant to buy anything you need to help you launch.
New Regional Teams Launching This Autumn
As you saw in this video, Messy Church is growing — and so is the support available to leaders and teams across the UK.
To help Messy Churches thrive, new Regional Teams will launch this Autumn 2026 to offer prayerful, practical support and encouragement.
Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, Regional Teams will provide:
- Local connection and encouragement
- Shared learning and resources
- Support for leaders and volunteers
- Opportunities to collaborate with others nearby
Together with the national team, these new regional networks will strengthen and support Messy Churches across the UK.
Next Steps
Take a look at our Messy Church Webinar: Engaging Families and Young People.
The webinar offers more information about the Messy Church core values, story, as well as great tips on how to start a Messy Church near you.
To find out more or get in touch, you can also visit the Messy Church website.
