In 2004, a team from St Wilfrid’s Church, Cowplain, decided to launch a new after-school event for families as an alternative to traditional Sunday services where people sat in rows listening to the vicar.

The first Messy Church, with its combination of art and craft on a Biblical theme, hospitality with a hot meal and plenty of cake, and a short, joyful act of worship, was held there in April 2004. Since then the concept has spread worldwide, with 2,300 registered Messy Churches around the world, from the Shetland Islands to the Isle of Wight, from New Zealand to the Falkland Islands.

This Thursday (April 24) there will be a party at St Wilfrid’s Messy Church, involving the usual crafts and activities, but with a ceilidh dance, a special roast dinner and a Messy Church birthday cake. More than 100 adults and children meet there once a month to explore stories and themes from the Bible in creative and messy ways.

The vicar of St Wilfrid’s, Canon Paul Moore, said: “Ten years ago when we talked to families in the local community and asked them what they would like, the clear answer was something that was fun for the family and definitely not on a Sunday morning. So the concept of Messy Church developed and an enthusiastic team of people from St Wilfrid’s was recruited to lead the crafts and cook the meal.

“When we launched the very first Messy Church in April 2004, we had no idea how many people would come, and we were amazed when 60 adults and children came and had such a great time that they wanted to keep coming each month.

“Little did we know that Messy Church would grow to be so big. It’s exciting to see how God has made this tiny seed we planted 10 years ago grow into such a large tree. I’m really looking forward to our 10th birthday party. We’ve got so much to celebrate and thank God for.”

The leader of that original team was Lucy Moore, Paul’s wife, who worked for the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF). Her role with BRF has changed, so she is now Messy Church team leader, helping to train and inspire Messy Church leaders across the world. She has written several books of resources to inspire Messy Church worldwide – and still leads the team back at St Wilfrid’s Church too.

She said: “Once people have seen Messy Church in action, they realise that it’s not just a children’s club, but somewhere where they can be themselves and listen to other people on their Christian journey. It can take time for people to realise that it’s for families, not just children.

“It’s also good when Messy Church is seen as a separate congregation in its own right, not something that channels people into the Sunday congregation. It’s influenced the rest of our church in the sense that it’s taught us about the joy of eating together, of all ages working together and hospitality. We’ve learnt that church shouldn’t be about what we want, but about helping those outside our churches to come closer to God.”

The 10th birthday celebration happens at St Wilfrid’s Church, Padnell Road, Cowplain, from 3.30pm-5.45pm on Thursday 24th April. Messy Church happens again at St Wilfrid’s at the same time on May 22, June 19 and July 17. For more details, see www.messychurch.org.uk.