Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church, has been awarded the prestigious Archbishop of Canterbury’s Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness ‘for the enormous impact of the gospel on the lives of children and families, through the ministry of Messy Church’.
Lucy headed up the ministry until January 2022 when she handed over the reins to Aike Kennett-Brown in order to take up a new leadership role in the Church of England. The whole worldwide Messy Church community join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved accolade.
Lucy was presented with the award on 7 March by The Most Revd Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured right, with Lucy’s husband The Venerable Dr Paul Moore). You can read his comments below.
Changing lives and transforming the church
In his citation, the Archbishop says:
Without Lucy Moore there would be no Messy Church. Since 2004 she has been instrumental in the conception, birth and continual growth… Now there are around 3,751 Messy Churches listed in over 30 countries.
This ministry, supported by BRF, has changed the church and, as is the end of all of God’s work in the church, has transformed lives… Through Lucy’s outstanding creativity and imagination, her tenacity and insistence, Messy Church has brought faith to tens of thousands who were not engaging with more formal services and, in so doing, has transformed local churches as they receive the gifts of faith and hope that participating in God’s work brings.
The gift of Messy Church is beyond measure. The Holy Spirit has used this vehicle to awaken children and their families to the love, joy and life of Jesus Christ in their own lives. It has changed lives and transformed the church.
