What a wonderful time we had at St Edmund’s Church for our very first Messy Church Café! We were so delighted to welcome children and their grown-ups for an afternoon full of fun, creativity, stories, food and friendship.
From the moment families arrived, there was a lovely buzz in the room. We started with some tasty snacks and then invited the children to explore a whole range of sensory and creative activities — there was something for everyone!
Our activity tables included play-doh, dry rice and pasta trays, where children could create their own little tree scenes using twigs, as well as cutting and sticking activities, colouring, poppet toys and a fish sensory lamp. It was wonderful to see children exploring the activities at their own pace, accompanied by their adults, while also making friends and chatting with other families.
The relaxed nature of the café meant that everyone could simply enjoy being together, explore what interested them and have fun. There were lots of smiles, plenty of creativity and a wonderful sense of community throughout the session.
We then gathered together for a special story time, listening to the story of Barnabus and Angelica, the church mice. We were very lucky to have our lovely Ivan with us to tell the story. Ivan is the author so it was particularly special to hear the story from the person who created these characters.
Through the story, the children learned about the Harvest Festival and the importance of sharing food with others. It was a lovely, gentle way to explore the message of caring, sharing and looking out for one another.
And, of course, no Messy Church Café would be complete without food! We finished our time together by enjoying a delicious meal, lovingly prepared by the amazing Pitstop ladies. A huge thank you to them for all their hard work — the meal was absolutely delicious and was the perfect way to finish such a special afternoon.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along and helped make our very first Messy Church Café such a success. It was wonderful to see St Edmund’s filled with families, laughter, creativity and fellowship.
Keep an eye out for our next Messy Church Café!
We’ll be back on the middle Thursday of next month (15th October!) and we would really love you to join us!
Come along, get creative, enjoy some sensory fun, hear a story, share a meal and spend time together as a community.
Everyone is welcome — we can’t wait to see you there!
