Trinity Church in Ossett in the Wakefield area have been able to launch a new Messy Church service, thanks in part to a small grant from the Diocese of Leeds.
The grant was given to the church as part of our Small Grants for New Congregations program, through our Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence work.
Using the grant, the church were able to purchase now-regularly used resources, including a mixture of craft materials and props that support their activities and storytelling.
The church still has some of the grant left, which gives them the freedom to plan creatively without needing to ask families to contribute.
The Revd Andrew Griffin, Priest in Charge at the church, said: “The small grant we received has been a real gift in helping us establish our new Messy Church.
“Although we initially imagined Messy Church would mainly attract young families, our age range now stretches from around four to 80.
“It’s wonderful to see older members of the congregation getting just as sticky and enthusiastic as the children.
“Watching everyone worship and engage together has been a real encouragement.
“There is still plenty of room for growth, and we’re learning something new each time we meet.
“We continue to tweak and shape the way we do things, but overall the experience has been very positive.”
Our Small Grants for New Congregations are part of our Barnabas work aimed at supporting new congregations, gatherings that are just beginning (or will begin in the next six months) which are aimed at people who are not yet part of the church.
They include some form of worship, an opportunity for people to talk about or embody faith, and are committed to maintaining relationships between gatherings.
To find out about our Small Grants for New Congregations, please click here.