Faithless and Ministry of Storrs

St Thérèse is one of the most highly regarded Roman Catholic saints

On Back to Church Sunday, we talked about how many people in Lancashire trouble to call in at their local church on a regular basis.

Official figures for Anglican churches won't be released until October but we heard how churches throughout the county have been making a special effort. They are hoping to attract the long since lapsed, the lately I've lost interest and the look I'm just too darned busy.

It's not as if the churches aren't trying.

The Reverend Geoffrey Loxam from Grimsargh told us how his regulars had been asked to phone a friend and bring them to a special meal they were providing after the morning worship.

The Reverend Sam Corley from the Blackburn Diocese urged people of whatever faith or those of no faith at all, to come to church to explore their spirituality. Sam dispelled the belief by some that many who go to church travel along way to get there, often from the nineteenth century!

He said churches should be modern vibrant places of today and if you encounter a bad vibe at the vestry, then put your coat on, walk out and try the church down the road next week - but don't give up because of one bad experience.

Relics

Hopefully, gone are the women who glare at you as you clear your throat during the service. Gone are the congregational tenants who believe they have squatters rights on a length of pew, gone is the mentality that can see a declaration of war at the publication of the who arranges the flowers on the altar rota! Sam assured us that churches have a fresh approach to welcome people into the Christian family.

This was a good Sunday to go to church because many in the county's congregations were excited at the arrival of relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. They are to be on show at Lancaster Cathedral for three days this week.

Thérèse is the patron saint of missionaries, aviators, florists and the sick. Thérèse was born in 1873 and died of TB at the age of 24... but for such a short life she's left a powerful legacy. She entered orders at 15, having battled with the church to be accepted early into the convent and is best known for finding wonder and love in the simple things in life.

The relics are being shown off nationwide and thousands of worshippers have gathered at cathedrals and churches across Britain this month to see the remains of the world-famous French saint.

Harvest Day

Anne Marie Coppock told us that the aid agency Cafod have organised for parishes and schools around our three Roman Catholic Diocese to hold special events and collections to mark an annual Harvest Fast Day on Friday. Cafod work to meet growing demands in Africa, Asia and Latin America. According to Cafod, one billion people will be living with hunger and they warn the global financial crisis is pushing already poverty-stricken people over the edge.

Some at risk historic churches in Lancashire will be throwing their doors open in song next weekend.

St John the Evangelist, Lancaster and St John the Baptist, Pilling will be showing off their vocal talents and their history as they join with other historic churches at risk across England in a unique public singing event.

Called Birthday Song, the weekend sees 40 choirs performing in 40 of the most nationally significant historic churches cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust, celebrating the charity's 40th birthday by providing local people with a unique opportunity to rediscover these magnificent buildings.

Both events take place on Sunday and we hope to have more news on next week's programme.

It's long been proven that churches are a vital ingredient for the social justice and tourist aspects of many towns and villages. If you took away the help and schemes provided by faith communities, much of the aforementioned social work and tourist revenue would simply disappear.

Tinkled

Now a report for the North West Development Agency has highlighted just how faith groups can get into places that authorities and bureaucracies struggle to reach and Monsignor John Devine told us how they give people the vital help they need.

Finally, we spoke earlier about those who have fallen by the congregational wayside, but we also met a man who has been going to church several times a week, for the last fifty years and he's been going to the same church, too.

Organist Michael Storrs of Chorley first tinkled the ivories, pulled out the stops and pedalled the pipes (I think we have just created a new cliché) at Hollinshead Church in August 1959. He became the Reverend Michael Storrs about 15 years ago, and is known in the Chorley and Leyland area as the Minister of Music.

Michael even played for us and I hope that sometime soon we can tempt him into the studio for a longer conversation about his 50 years of musical ministry. I wonder if Michael will start the interview in true organist tradition by rising up through the studio floor?

Joe Wilson

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