Virtual churches the way forward?

St. Pixels is an online virtual church community with a large following

There's one Sunday in the year when Elvis goes to mass in Blackpool and the congregation aren't amazed when he rises to sing one of his greatest hits at the end of the service.

After Elvis has left the altar, comedians Jimmy Cricket, Johnny Casson and Frank Carson tend to take over and what was a morning service is hurled headlong towards a midnight mass!

It's the annual Stage Guild Mass which takes place this weekend at a church in Squires Gate in the resort. The theme of the mass is to bless the entertainers and those in the business they call show. Plenty of top names are in the congregation and, after they have observed the sanctity of the mass, they aren't averse to "doing five minutes" for the leaving congregation.

On this week's programme, Adlington musician and Lancashire representative of the Stage Guild, Mike Gannon, played us some of his music and told us of the history of the Guild, the northern branch of which was formed 53 years ago by Joe "he was a great baker was our dad" Gladwin.

St. Pixels

Also this week, Lancashire journalist Ian Aspin, a devoted Twitterer who claims to be the most followed non-celebrity in the country, asked what social networking can do for his faith and what influence they will have on established faith groups in the future?

It was a fascinating two part investigation which left me wondering how many new forms of faith exist only online.

I also wondered if the time will come where St. Pixels is more popular than St. Peter's. I use the term St. Peter's to mean any faith group, St. Pixels is an online virtual church community which already exists, with its own services, own ceremonies, own faith discussions and a very large following.

The theme of the Stage Guild Mass is to bless entertainers

We heard all shades of the feeling, one of the most prominent being that computer can not replace church because the latter offers a real sense of being together, a sense of physical community.

Critical corrections

Alternatively, a big point was made of the fact that online communities bypass the faith leader and let the virtual congregation discuss issues that influence them without being told an official point of view. It was also said that they are able to say the unthinkable and it was easier to challenge perceived theology.

Perhaps the most amusing part of the report was when we heard that it is not unknown for congregations to use technology in church to texting each other with the an instant review of the vicar's sermon as it is being delivered from the pulpit. That's seriously scary for the vicar!

Still that's not unique, I'm just so grateful that I can't hear what you are saying about me when I'm on the radio! You know, when you offer me those critical corrections of more than four syllables and follow it with the exasperated phrase "Honestly, you would have thought he'd have learned by now!"

Joe Wilson

Joe presents the faith programme on BBC Radio Lancashire from 6am each Sunday.