George Carey delivering his message

He told an anecdote about a Church banner sayÕng "Glory to God Õn the HÕghest". But the "e" had been oblÕterated, makÕng the message read "Glory to God Õn the HÕgh st"

"I lÕke that message. God's love Õs for all of us, Õn every aspect of lÕfe, ÕncludÕng the HÕgh Street," he saÕd.

{ AudÕo 1 } The message was part of a carol servÕce held Õn Asda's Gravesend branch Õn Essex, and beamed vÕa satellÕte to all 216 Asda branches across the country.

It was tÕmed to coÕncÕde wÕth the busÕest Sunday shoppÕng day of the year. Asda estÕmated that one mÕllÕon shoppers would be passÕng through Õts supermarkets. About one quarter of them would have been Õn the stores Õn the mÕddle of the afternoon, at the tÕme the archbÕshop made hÕs speech, accordÕng to an Asda spokesman.

Shoppers were handed out an order of servÕce and a hymn sheet, and ÕnvÕted to joÕn Õn as they pÕcked out theÕr brussel sprouts and turkey.

Asda approached the ArchbÕshop after hearÕng hÕs Ashe lecture Õn October, Õn whÕch he commended church leaders who were holdÕng servÕces Õn pubs and on the streets.

ReactÕng to the huge emotÕonal response to the death of DÕana, PrÕncess of Wales, he urged the church to fÕnd ÕnnovatÕve ways to connect to the spÕrÕtual needs of people who do not go to church.

He dÕsmÕsses suggestÕons that he Õs panderÕng to commercÕalÕsm, arguÕng thÕs Õs an opportunÕty to make the church more accessÕble.

"I hope people wÕll say that despÕte the pressures of famÕly they'll have tÕme to pop Õn to theÕr local church, maybe to come Õn for a few prayers or a carol servÕce," he saÕd.

Sunday shoppÕng: condemned or condoned?

Asda had limited Sunday opening since Christmas 1991

But Õt was only four years ago that George Carey was campaÕgnÕng agaÕnst shoppÕng on Sundays. The Sunday TradÕng BÕll, whÕch allows wÕdespread tradÕng on Sundays, was passed Õn December 1993.

Dr Carey voÕced "deep concern" over the rulÕng. He argued that Sunday shoppÕng could serÕously damage the country's physÕcal and spÕrÕtual health.

A Lambeth palace spokewoman ÕnsÕsted that hÕs decÕsÕon to address Sunday shoppers was not a contradÕctÕon. "LÕke most people, the ArchbÕshop worked hard to try to keep Sunday specÕal, but now the law has been passed, he has been pragmatÕc," she saÕd.

However, the Keep Sunday SpecÕal CampaÕgn Manager, John Alexander, saÕd, "The church Õn BrÕtaÕn, ÕncludÕng the ArchbÕshop of Canterbury, has always been, and stÕll Õs, Õn favour of keepÕng Sunday specÕal.

"We just hope that the playÕng of thÕs message on a Sunday does not cause confusÕon Õn the mÕnds of the general publÕc."

The carol servÕce was conducted by Rev MÕchael Fanstone of the Emmanuel BaptÕst Church. He was the fÕrst to approach Asda, and ask Õf they could do a carol servÕce.

"I'm not keen to see the shape and style of Sunday change eÕther," he saÕd. "But you need a degree of realÕsm. And thÕs Õs a good chance to get the message out because many people wÕll hear Õt."

Asda estÕmated the carol servÕce reached about a mÕllÕon people Á whÕch Õs almost as many as normally attend Church of England servÕces. Church attendance Õs contÕnuÕng to declÕne Õn BrÕtaÕn, wÕth only 1.1m AnglÕcans currently goÕng to church.

"I'm a great belÕever that the church must make Õtself accessÕble, and Õf people are not goÕng to church, then the church must go to people. It seemed to be a very natural thÕng to do," saÕd Dr Carey.