MIXING pints and prayers may not be the most conventional way of celebrating Christmas, but that's exactly what one local vicar did when he wanted to attract larger congregations.

And regulars at the Anderton Arms, Fulwood, couldn't have responded better when Fr Damien Freeney set up church in their local on Christmas Eve.

Once last orders had been called, those inside the pub stopped supping and started singing, swapping the bar rail for a portable alter rail.

More than a dozen people turned up at the pub AFTER last orders to attend the novel service, joining those who had settled in for the evening.

Father Freeney said: "This was a wonderful chance for people to find out who we were. The church, in the past, has been accused of not doing enough to bring people in.

"We have come out to the people, just as Jesus did, coming into the places where people meet and it appears to have worked.

"We would like to do it again."

While the idea of mixing the Christian grape with the pub grain may seem unusual to some, it was the natural step forward for Fr Freeney, whose nomadic congregation worship weekly at the cafeteria in Asda's Fulwood supermarket.

Fr Freeney, who was appointed the mission priest for the Longsands areas of Fulwood in the summer, now plans to hold services on a Saturday night in the newly built Millennium Hall.

The short service started at 12.15am, 15 minutes after last orders, so no alcohol was served during the act of worship.

Manager of the Anderton Arms, Mike Loftus, said: "When I was first approached about the idea I thought about it long and hard before I said yes.

"It appears to have gone very well, with quite a few of my regulars staying on. It is certainly something I would be happy to allow to take place here again."

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