CHURCHES in Darwen today said they were facing the New Year with hope and optimism after a successful Christmas shattered the myth religion has lost its place in society.

Members of a number of churches agreed television and presents had been among the hot topics in the congregation over the festive period - but said full houses at services proved a return to tradition.

St Peter's Church welcomed hundreds of guests to its services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and more than 200 people turned up to its carol concert.

The Rev Kevin Arkell said: "There was an increase on last year and a big increase on Christmas morning where we saw around 100 people.

"We are seeing more people in church than we did 12 or 13 years ago, even though general figures show that the number of people going to church is declining.

"The figures grow where there is strength in leadership, good practice and commitment and this is what we have here."

Mr Arkell said the numbers attending Christmas services did not reflect the total which visited the church throughout the year.

He continued: "One of the things that's changed is that people are often busy on Sunday's so they can't attend but they are still a part of the church. And it's exactly the same with Christmas because a lot of people go away or travel to visit relatives.

"The number attending church services at Christmas time is much less than the total number."

But Fr Anthony Barrett of St Edward's and Sacred Heart Church on Blackburn Road, urged people to attend more regularly and not just during Christian festivals such as Christmas or Easter.

He said: "We held two masses on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas Day and they were very well attended.

"The church was packed on Christmas Eve.

"Sunday's are very important in the Christian calendar and you just don't see the numbers you used to see 20 years ago.

"People think Christmas is a meaningful time to attend church but in reality, every Sunday is a meaningful time."

Fr Barrett continued: "There are lots of distractions to church these days such as football, television and shopping, which can cause the church to be side-lined."