WHEN the choice is David Beckham or God, York is plumping for God.

While dozens of churches across the country are set to switch their morning services this Sunday, to avoid clashes with England's first World Cup match, York's churchgoers are keeping the faith.

The match kicks off at 10.30am, and, as it clashes with many morning services, some vicars fear their pews may be empty as England kick off against Sweden on the other side of the world.

But the Rev Dr John Roden, vicar of Appleton Roebuck, said the clash was not even an issue.

"We do sometimes change our times, but no one has raised this subject of the match and there has been no pressure," he told the Evening Press.

A slight change has taken place at St Chad's, in York, though.

The Rev Simon Stanley said: "We were meant to have a special youth service at 11.30am, but we understood that the young people might be interested in the match, so we moved it to next week. But our normal service will take place, at the same time as the match."

Changing the times of services has been backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, who is a keen Arsenal fan.

Updated: 11:07 Tuesday, May 28, 2002