Church growth in Barmouth thanks to Messy Church

St John's Church in Barmouth celebrated a remarkable turnout at its latest Messy Church event, with 60 children participating in March. This marks a significant increase from the summer of 2023, when attendance was just 15 children.

Messy Church at St John’s offers a range of fun activities, including crafts, games, and food-related fun like pancake decorating. It gives children a chance to explore faith through creative expression while learning about love, kindness, and compassion. Each session includes a time for worship. During certain Bible readings, such as the story of Jesus being tempted by the Devil, children enthusiastically shout "Hooray!" whenever they hear Jesus's name and “Boo!” when the Devil is mentioned. This interactive approach helps reinforce the message that Jesus brings good news.

Founded 21 years ago, Messy Church has expanded to over 30 countries as a Christian outreach for families. Research from 2019 indicates that more than 60 percent of families attending Messy Church are new to church. The report 'Playfully Serious,' based on two years of research by the Church Army, used interviews and focus groups with church leaders, volunteers, and participants. It found that 40 percent of attendees came from families with little or no previous contact with church, and 20 percent from families who had stopped attending church altogether.

St John's has become a welcoming place for families, attracting people from as far as Tywyn and Dolgellau to join the community.