‘All together’ is a conference like no other! Join us for a weekend of inspiring keynote speakers, informative workshops, Messy Church sessions and fun together with the global Messy Church family. We will be exploring how we welcome people of all ages, abilities and from all backgrounds to Messy Church.
We will be gathering from 4.00 pm on Friday 20 June 2025 at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
The conference closes on Sunday 22 June 2025 at 2.00 pm.
All meals and accommodation are included in the cost of your conference ticket: you just need to get yourself there.
We’re delighted that we’ll be joined at the conference by Engage Worship who will be leading our music as well as 2 workshops. Sara and Sam Hargreaves are co-leaders of Engage Worship, resourcing and training local churches for creative, sustainable and world-changing worship. Their most recent resource is Whole Church Worship, an intergenerational church service pack, and they have led the All Age Celebrations at Spring Harvest for the past three years. They are committed members of their local church, St Luke’s Leagrave, and also lead a fresh expression in a local park.
We also have 2 fantastic keynote speakers for the weekend! We’ll be joined by Lorraine Prince and Dr Sam Richards.
Lorraine is the Head of Networks for The Church of England Education Office. She facilitates CPD and networks focusing on EDIJ, SEND, Trauma, Courageous Advocacy and Our Hope for Flourishing Schools. She previously was a teacher for twenty-five years in the UK and US; she received a Master of Teaching degree from the Institute of Education in London and her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at The State University of New York in New Paltz, New York. She co-leads the BAMEed Eastern region network, a grassroots network that ensures our diverse communities are represented as a substantive part of the education workforce for teachers and educational leaders.
Sam is Head of Children’s and Youth Work for the United Reformed Church. Previously she was Director of Oxford Youth Works and one of the founders of the Institute for Children, Youth and Mission (CYM). Sam is also a volunteer with her village church Messy Church team, usually tasked with creating all-age prayers, any physical activities or games, and just occasionally trusted with a craft. She champions all ages being disciples together, and recently coauthored Regenerational, an international resource to help churches introduce intergenerational ministry through gathered worship: Regenerational – United Reformed Church. Down time involves shouting at rugby and cycling, singing in a Climate Choir, exploring the great outdoors and eating too much chocolate.
FAQs
Who is it for?
This intergenerational conference is for all Messy Church leaders and teams from anywhere in the world of any age. Whether you’re 8 or 28 or 108, if you’re on the leadership team of your Messy Church in some capacity, this conference is for you. (Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.) The range of activities and approaches during the weekend means it will be engaging and inspiring for everyone. We delight in simply being together, learning from and with each age group and country. We also welcome those interested in learning more about Messy Church as a movement.
Come on your own – we promise you’ll soon have friends. Or come as a team of all ages – what better way to forge strong friendships across your team and be able to put new ideas into practice when you go back to your Messy Church again?
If you’ve never been on a training conference before, this conference will be a great start: you’ll be warmly welcomed, you’ll be among people who look after each other and who will be interested in you and your Messy Church; everything is on-site so once you’re there, you can just relax with everything in one place. And it will be that wonderful Messy Church combination of learning something every minute of the day in fun and engaging ways, just by hanging out with other Messy people, but also through a stimulating programme of activities – you can go to everything on offer or just one or two activities: it’s completely up to you.
What's the plan?
Timetable
Friday
- Arrival from 4.00 pm
- Dinner
- Opening ‘getting to know you’ session
Saturday
- Keynote speakers
- Workshops
- Messy Panel Q&A
- Messy Church session
- Midsummer social including a ceilidh!
Sunday
- More workshops
- Messy Church session and communion
- Lunch
- Depart from 2.00 pm
Plus lots more food and free time for you to make Messy friends!
What’s the conference centre like?
High Leigh is a Christian conference centre in Hertfordshire, close to London, where you’ll have a clean and comfy en-suite bedroom, beautiful grounds with space for relaxing and walking, a games room, comfortable lounge areas and large meeting rooms – even a gym free to use for all guests. We will be the only guests, so everyone you meet will be Messy!
High Leigh is an accessible venue. Please let us know on your booking form if you’d like to discuss any particular needs, so we can make everyone fully welcome. The food is plentiful and delicious and Fairtrade coffee and tea breaks happen regularly – with plenty of sweet treats!. All meals and accommodation are included in the cost of your conference ticket: you just need to get yourself there. Travel directions are on the High Leigh website and we will create an online space for delegates to discuss car-sharing to reduce the impact on the environment.
Can I get financial help?
At present we’re not able to offer bursaries, however your church, your diocese (or similar) or your denomination might be willing to contribute towards your conference fee and travel costs. Remind them that training is an important part of lay and ordained ministry, including developing young leaders, and that funding could help more team members to attend.
What about if…
I’m not actually involved in a Messy Church?
No problem! If you just want to find out more about Messy Church, or you’re considering it for your church, you’re very welcome to join us! You’re sure to have a warm welcome and make new friends who can tell you about their experiences.
…I’m on my own?
Don’t worry! You’ll be among people who look after each other and who will be interested in you and your Messy Church, if you have one. You’ll not be on your own for long, unless you want to be.
…I bring our whole Messy Church team?
Fantastic! What better way to forge strong friendships across your team and be able to put new ideas into practice when you go back to your Messy Church again!
…I’ve never been to a conference before?
The Messy Church Conference is the perfect start! You’ll be warmly welcomed and once you’re there, everything is on-site and easy to find your way around, so you can just relax and enjoy yourself.
…I need some time to myself?
That’s okay. Everyone is welcome to go to everything on offer or just one or two activities: it’s completely up to you. If you just need some time on your own with God, there are award-winning gardens and grounds for you to unwind in.
Workshops – more news coming soon!
Autism & Church – Kirstyn Oliver, Founder and Director, Alma Autism UK
During this workshop we will explore how we can go from a church who welcomes autistic people to one that supports the spiritual needs of the autistic person and their family, helping them find a place of belonging in our community with lots of practical ideas and suggestions from all you can see on the Alma Autism website and the experience and work of Alma Autism UK.
Simple Singing – Sam & Sara Hargreaves, Engage Worship
Tips and resources for how you can sing worship in settings with minimal or no musicians or technology. This workshop will include music ideas for when you’re doing outdoor worship, as well as simple songs for indoor Messy Church gatherings. Based on Sara & Sam’s experience of leading a service in their local park every fortnight and at their small local church.
Intergenerational Singing – Sam & Sara Hargreaves, Engage Worship
Principles and usable ideas for uniting diverse groups in musical worship. Sara & Sam will explore how we can connect with different kinds of people when we gather to sing, and how music can be combined with other worship styles. Grounded in many years of leading intergenerational gatherings and their recent resource Whole Church Worship.
Messy Church in a bucket – Mary Judkins
Is there a hole in your Messy Church bucket? Are you short of team? Do you want family members to be more involved? Do you want more time to engage meaningfully with those who come to your Messy Church? Come along and see if this is for you.
Mary is a member of our volunteer Support Teams and has been involved in volunteer lay ministry since she was a teenager. She leads a Messy Church Goes Wild in Cornwall and is passionate about children, young people and families meeting Jesus and becoming disciples.
Welcoming people with SEND – Trish Hahn
In this workshop Trish will share her top tips for being a welcoming and inclusive Messy Church for people with SEND.
Trish is a member of our Specialist Support team and has over 13 years of experience leading two Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Messy Churches, previously in Hertfordshire and currently in northeast Essex.
Messy Adventures – Dave Gregory
A mobile, outdoor session, looking for signs of God in the wonder, playfulness and connectivity of the natural world. Discovering insights from the Messy Adventure journey so far, and inspiration for following Jesus in a changing climate.
Dave is a Baptist Missioner for Science and Environment. A former weather and climate scientist, he has been a Baptist minister for over 20 years and led a Messy Church for a decade. He edited Messy Church Does Science and contributed to Messy Church Goes Wild and Messy Adventures. Dave loves enabling people encounter God through nature and the wonder of creation.
Messy Prayer – Rachel Gotobed
Lord, teach us to pray…..
Prayer is vital in ensuring that our Messy Church is Christ-centred, so in this workshop we will explore:
- praying as we prepare
- praying as an activity
- praying in celebration
- praying at home
- praying for our Messy Church
We will use this time to share ideas and resources that help wrap our Messy Churches in prayer, and take time to pray together.
Rachel has been involved in family ministry for over 20 years and is passionate about helping people discover their place in the family of God.
Working within the Salvation Army locally and across the UK & Ireland, she champions all things Messy Church and is a member of the Support Team for Prayer and the Writers Team.
Rachel loves to bake, write songs and scripts, go to the theatre, eat afternoon tea and just be wherever people are.
Playfulness in the unexpected! – Kathy & David Bland
Awaken a sense of fun and joyful creativity as we think about how to make Messy Church activities truly intergenerational. Playdough and mud pies with grandma’s? Hammering with toddlers? Messy Church communities grow and thrive best, when we all join in.
Kathy and David are Intergenerational Pioneers in rural Herefordshire where they have been leading Messy Church for 14 years.
Tickets
Early bird price between 20 June and 18 September: Under-16s – £176, Adults – £295
From 19 September, standard price: Under-16s – £200, Adults – £335
From the end of January 2025, there may be a very limited number of Saturday day tickets (no guarantee): Under-16s – £76, Adults – £95
You might want to consider asking your church or your denomination for a contribution towards your conference fee and travel costs in your capacity as leaders, either lay or ordained – training is such an important part of formation and ministry. Consider, too, that funding might enable more members of your team to attend with you, especially your younger leaders.
