The first Messy Church was held in Cowplain, near Portsmouth,when a group at St Wilfrid's church became frustrated because the church was not reaching enough children.
The new way of worshipping was aimed at children and adults, involving creativity, celebration and hospitality.
Anglican Parish of Wakatipu children and young families co-ordinator Emma Wilson said there were other Messy Churches across New Zealand, but the recent Sunday marked the first in Queenstown.
Described as ''family-friendly worship'', the Messy Church had grown out of Sunday schools, but had evolved beyond that.
''This is all-age worship - families come and work together and play together and do fun activities.''
Each Messy Church had four elements - a welcome, craft activities and games, a celebration and a meal, Mrs Wilson said.
Abby Batstone (4) and her sister Emma (2), formerly of Auckland, were the first to experience the church in Queenstown, playing pass the parcel with a twist.
''They had to give their sweet to someone else and there were questions or a challenge to make them think a bit.''
A Messy Church scrapbook had also been created and following each meeting a coloured hand-print or a leaf attendees had decorated would be put in the book, recording their attendance, Mrs Wilson said.
The meetings will be held about once a month at St Peter's Church Hall.
