Archbishop preaches supermarket sermon

The Archbishop of Canterbury the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, Dr George Carey, has broken with tradition and broadcast a Christmas message to a chain of British supermarkets.

Dr Carey's pre-recorded sermon was included in a Christmas carol service held at one ASDA supermarket in Gravesend, east of London and broadcast via the company's satellite link to its other two-hundred and fifteen stores.

The Archbishop said the church should make itself accessible and if people were not going to church then the church should go to the people.

Some Christian groups have criticised the move, saying it panders to commercialism.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service