On Thursday, 28th November, The Bay Primary School hosted its first-ever Messy Church, led by Flourish workers Chloe Wells and Neil Denley. The event was a vibrant and joyful evening filled with creativity, fun, and a sense of community.

The evening began with a warm introduction from the Flourish Team and Reverend Mark Williams from Christ Church CE. Then the fun truly started as primary students, ranging from Reception to Year 6, entered the hall to take part in a variety of exciting craft activities. These included designing celebration hats for the meal later in the evening and drawing themselves and their family members on a giant shared canvas.

Mrs Feltham, Head of RE from the secondary school, was also in attendance, accompanied by 15 enthusiastic Year 11 students who came along to help their younger peers engage in the activities and create their crafts.

The theme for the event was The Prodigal Son, and students embarked on a thrilling treasure hunt to find "lost" chocolate coins scattered around the hall. This was followed by an immersive drama performance where students and their families acted out the story, donning costumes specially created by Chloe Wells.

After the drama, students and their families received craft bags containing all the materials needed to create their own Prodigal Son-inspired crafts. These bags were beautifully decorated by Year 5 Craft Ambassadors.

The evening concluded with a delicious shared meal. Everyone enjoyed homemade spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread, and a truly unforgettable lemon drizzle cake—many attendees said it was the best they had ever tasted! Each student also received their own Bible to take home as a keepsake.

The event wrapped up around 5pm, leaving everyone with full tummies, big smiles, and wonderful memories. It was an incredible way to bring the school community together and celebrate in a fun and meaningful way.

We can’t wait for the next Messy Church!