Former primary school teacher Mary Addison never meant to start Messy Church, but twelve years ago when a neighbouring church pipped her plan to start up 'Mainly Music,' she turned to the "Messy Church" idea as an alternative option.

Today around 60-80 people still turn up to St Paul's Putaruru for each six-weekly session of Messy Church's well-known format of crafts, community, food and faith, designed to gather the generations together in accessible ways of joining in the Christian story.

But far from rejuvenating one service or age group in the parish, Messy Church has become a pivotal point where church and town meet, and especially for one particular group who struggle to find welcome or support outside their home.

This good news story has unfolded organically over the years. For example, when food preparation at Messy Church uncovered a dearth of cooking skills, particularly for people living in a local residence for adults with mental health challenges, St Pauls' set up weekly cooking classes for anyone to join.

When one Mum asked for help with reading at Messy Church, the team took note and set up after-school literacy sessions for both adults and the children who named it "Messy School". Now four volunteers support that ministry, with Mary, retired priest Rev Ben Cameron, retired teacher Cherry Teklenburg and parish staff Sarah Burgoyne-Smith – who now works 20 hours a week on the church's "Messy" ministries.

As Messy Church members have grown into a whānau, the church-based team packs up Christmas presents for them each year, and for some, the odd grocery box to share when things get tough. The same goes for gift payments to schools for camp fees or to health centres for bills when a local family is struggling to pay.

No agency funds this work, just donations from a range of sources, says Mary, including from Messy Church whānau who sometimes text her with a beautiful question.

“Hi Mary. I’ve got a job now. Can you send me the bank account number?”

Rev Liz Lightfoot, (whose church St Andrew's Cambridge has donated towards St Paul's Messy ministry for years) is full of appreciation for what the Putaruru team do, but surprised she'd never heard more of their efforts.

"Mary, who is 75, talks about her ministry at St Paul's as though this is what we all do as Christians: [Invite rooms full of high needs people into our homes, cater food for dozens of people for free on a regular basis, step up to pay another's bills]. No big deal. She doesn’t wear rose-tinted glasses, nor is there a hint of condescension. Just a clear-eyed acceptance and care for others. And profound faith in God."   

"When I joined in with Messy Cooking this February, I was moved by the atmosphere of acceptance, good humour and kindness."

There's appreciation beyond the church too. One staff person from the adult mental health facility where a number of Messy Church whānau live, told Liz she's delighted in the trust that's built up between the church and residents.

“Everyone has a need to feel included” she commented. “[St Paul's] is the place where they are not judged.”  The church has had a positive impact on behaviour too, she said. "One man used to express his anger by shouting – “If he has a blow up now, he will spontaneously apologise. It’s lovely.”

For some of the residents, their Christmas gift from Messy Church is the only one they'll receive. And because they know they're part of the St Paul's family, some residents invite Mary and her team to celebrate special events like birthdays with them too.

In 2026 Mary Addison estimates around 20 volunteers now contribute to the "Messy Church", "Messy Cooking" and "Messy School" ministries at St Paul's. While "Messy" is a worldwide brand with around 4000 churches of different denominations interpreting it in their own way, Mary still likes the title. 

“It’s called messy because people’s lives are messy now."

"It’s saying to everyone, ‘Come as you are. You do not need your hat and gloves.’

I think of it as Messy Church as opposed to tidy, traditional church.”

You can read the full interview between St Paul's Putaruru's Mary Addison and Rev Liz Lightfoot here.

You can find out more of the background and practicalities of running Messy Church here.