‘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.
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.
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 6 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.
