Come and join us in person for Messy Church at St Barnabas’, and in the meantime, why not join in online on our Messy Church Chat Facebook group.

Here’s what it’s like: Messy Church happens in our large hall with plenty of room to play and run around. Arrive from 15.00 onwards and be warmly welcomed with a drink and a biscuit, while the children get stuck into whatever craft takes their fancy including a food-related craft such as cake decorating.  All of the crafts relate to the story of the day.

There is an area for younger children or just those who don’t want to do craft, where they can just sit and play with blocks or other toys.

The hall hums with activity and towards the end, also smells delicious with the tea that’s cooking.

Around 15.50, so that the volunteers can clean the tables and lay out the tea, the children briefly go into the church, sing a song together with actions and then there is a story (when I was there, there were puppets too!).

Then it’s back to the hall for a full tea such as chicken nuggets, cheese, peppers, carrots sticks, sandwiches, cucumber, grapes, cakes and drinks.