A popular event has celebrated its tenth anniversary.

The Messy Church at Hoxne, Suffolk, which was launched in 2014, marked its anniversary on September 1.

The event, held in the village hall at Syleham and Wingford, is a monthly gathering for children and their parents.

They engage in a variety of craft activities, including finger painting and greeting card decoration.

Reverend Canon Eleanor Goodison, priest-in-charge of the Hoxne Benefice, said: “One of the great things about Messy Church is it is for families.

Every month, children and their parents gather to take part in a range of fun craft activities, from finger painting to decorating greetings cards Every month, children and their parents gather to take part in a range of fun craft activities, from finger painting to decorating greetings cards (Image: Submitted)

“Parents bring their children along, and they have lots of fun, but they stay to chat and have a cup of tea too."

She described the event as a brilliant way for families to socialise and welcome new members into the church and the wider community.

Reverend Canon Goodison said the Messy Church had become a hugely popular monthly event since it was launched and that activities even carried on throughout the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to its dedicated volunteers.

“It has been held in the same village hall the entire 10 years, the only time it wasn’t was during lockdown,” she said.

“Even during this difficult time, Messy Church continued – we sent out videos on Facebook with a story, a prayer and instructions on the different crafts the children were doing.

“We then delivered packages with the materials they needed – it worked really very well.”

Archdeacon Rich Henderson was among the guests to attend the anniversary celebrations at the packed village hall on Sunday.

He said: "It was a joy to join in with the Hoxne Benefice’s Messy Church 10th anniversary celebrations, seeing children, young people and adults being together, through craft, story, song prayer games and food."