Ancient church moves to York pub for service

Holy Trinity Micklegate will hold an informal service in the upstairs room of nearby Brigantes, at 6pm on Sunday.

Three classic pop songs will be sung instead of hymns, people will sit round pub tables instead of in pews, and those who want to will be able to enjoy a drink during the service - although there are no plans to turn water into wine.

MICKLEGATE:

Pete Marsland, who will lead the service, said he expected some people who knew about the service to attend, but also hoped some pub-goers may join in out of curiosity.

Mr Marsland, who is a Reader at the church and also Chaplain to North Yorkshire Police, said there would be further services in the pub, but the frequency might depend upon the response on Sunday.

Sunday’s event is described as a “service of prayer and praise through popular music”. Three songs will be sung: I’m A Believer by The Monkees, Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, and What If God Was One Of Us? by Joan Osborne.

Mr Marsland said he often tried to incorporate popular music lyrics into his sermons, to encourage people to think about the lyrics and their meaning in real life.

He said he first had the ‘pub church’ idea a few years ago and colleagues had now encouraged him to try it. He said: “There are people who maybe don’t like services in an old building, or don’t like the songs, or the way it is arranged, so we hope this won’t just help new people to connect but also help other people to reconnect with their Christian faith. Brigantes and Market Town Taverns, their owners, have been very supportive.” Holy Trinity Micklegate predates the Norman invasion and was listed in the Domesday Book as one of the five great northern churches, along with York Minster, Durham Cathedral, Beverley Minster and Ripon Cathedral. In 1089 it was refounded as a Benedictine Priory. Most of the buildings were disposed off in the 16th century, leaving only the present church.