Messy Church Does Science 

Messy Church groups are encouraged to introduce science activities thanks to a new resource developed with a Baptist minister to show how science and faith mix

BRF Messy Church’s new project Messy Church Does Science brings together faith and science under the safety-spectacled eye of ‘Dr Dave’ - none other than the Revd Dr Dave Gregory of Croxley Green Baptist Church, and Vice-President of the Baptist Union 2017-18.

The resource features 100 fun and eye-opening experiments graded for mess, danger and difficulty, as well as ‘big thinking’ and ‘big questions’ links to explore the connection between science and faith.

The project’s aim is to demonstrate that science and faith are complementary, and help children and adults appreciate the wonder of creation.

It has been developed with the help of a grant awarded by Scientists in Congregations, and includes input from working scientists and theologians.

Dave leads a Messy Church Science Lab as a part of a monthly Messy Church, and has a background in physics, astronomy, meteorology and climate.

He said, 'Science is fun, a gift from God that brings joy to life, helping us to appreciate his life and love all the more.

'All of us want to share that sense with others, helping them to enjoy the wonder that science reveals all about the world and ourselves, and through it something of the God of life who lies behind it.'

There are more than 3,735 registered Messy Churches throughout the UK in over 20 countries worldwide and an estimated 500,000 people attending each month. 

Over half of those that attend a Messy Church have had little or no previous connection with church. Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church said the organisation wants to give Messy Church leaders the confidence to do riskier hands-on activities, and be happy sharing basic scientific principles along with the biblical theme.

'Messy Churches are hot on discovery, experimentation and exploration; could we encourage even more Messy Church groups to feel confident about using science in the activity time, so that families would understand that the Church celebrates science and rejoices in it?

'Our dream is that in ten years’ time nobody will be saying ‘science and faith don’t mix’ but instead it will be common to hear, ‘I had my first experience of science being fun at my local church.’

Order your copy of Messy Church Does Science here.