We investigate vicar's claim about Church's decline Can God compete with soap stars? SOAP stars and soccer idols -- are they becoming more important than God in people's lives ?

The Rev Brian Stevenson told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph yesterday that "today's god is in everybody's living room -- it's called the television. Who wants the vicar when they are watching Coronation Street and Emmerdale?"

With millions of viewers tuning in each week to watch a selection of soaps, the television provides an escape from the real world and a talking point the next day.

But are people too busy watching the antics of Martin Platt and Sally Webster to be concerned about Christian values and the sanctity of marriage? Do people sing football chants more often than hymns?

Latest figures from the Church of England, compiled for 1999, show that just under one million adults and children in this country attend church on Sundays. A spokesman said: "This figure does not include any other Christian faiths, let alone any non-Christian faiths."

The Football Association says about half a million people attend football matches of all levels on any given weekend. The Rev Ken Howles, vicar of St Bartholomew's church, Ewood, and chaplain to Blackburn Rovers FC, said the church's relationship with the club was a positive one and it tried to work with the club rather than against it.

But he added: "One of the problems we have here in Ewood is if the Rovers are playing at home, people will not leave their homes because they have to walk through a crowd or are frightened of going out in their car and losing their parking space.

"Football is now mega-money and mega-business. Blackburn Rovers don't call the shots -- Sky TV and Rupert Murdoch say when things happen.

"The first thing we have to look at when planning the Christmas fair is whether Rovers are at home.

"I think we can use all the excuses in the world about soap operas and whatever, but at the end of the day we have got to work harder as a church to make the never-changing Gospel relevant in an ever-changing world.

"I think we have got to look at things like drama, involving younger people, making people feel welcome.

"There is a whole host of issues that need to be addressed. We have to accept that more and more people work on Sundays and more and more people have split families so children go to the other parent on a Sunday.

"I would not disagree with Brian. I think that television as a medium is so powerful today that it dictates society and we (the Church) are lagging behind.

"In the past the Church set standards. Now it is television setting standards. Someone said recently that the only decent screen marriage we have is Jack and Vera in Coronation Street.

"No matter what you watch, I believe the TV is the biggest undoer of the Church's work. If you think about it, we haven't had a straight-down-the-line vicar on TV for donkeys' years. There is always a twist in the tale. I think sometimes television has a lot to answer for." ROBERT MONK, 26, of East Street, Blackburn: "I don't watch soaps or follow football, but if people want to go to church they will go -- they will make the effort."

IAN HARVEY, 25, of East Street, Blackburn: "People haven't got time -- they just want to chill out and have five minutes' peace. I'm a believer in God to a certain extent but I only go to church for weddings, Christenings and funerals."

CARMEN CHARNLEY, 16, a student, of Oswaldtwistle, said: "I think people do tend to consider TV more important than God. We go to church -- St Mary's -- whenever we can and I think I can fit God and television into my life. My grandmother tapes everything."

JOSEPH FIELDING, 58, of Roebuck Close, Blackburn, said: "I think there are too many soaps on television and people would get more out of life if they went to church."

ARASHED MAHMOOD, 34, of Great Harwood, said: "I don't watch soaps or football, but I do watch TV. I think it is true what the vicar has said."

IVY DUNN, 77, of Bath Street, Blackburn, said: "I go to church when I can, but some days I can't. Songs of Praise on television is jolly good for those who can't get out -- you are still getting what you need."