Brum's Bishop born to be wild

Sep 24 2007 By Patrice John, Birmingham Mail

THE Bishop of Birmingham swapped his mitre for a motorbike as he dashed round the diocese to encourage people to head back to church.

Bishop David Urquhart was visiting 13 parishes today to support the Back To Church Sunday Initiative.

Back to Church Sunday is a national Church of England scheme which aims to attract people who have given up church but may have previously been involved.

Organisers estimate that 17,000 people are likely to return to church next weekend on Back to Church Sunday.

Bishop David said: "Recent research has shown that 3 million people (six per cent of the adult population) would come back to church if they had a personal invitation.

"People can get out of the habit of going to church but I am sure church has a lot to offer people in 21st Century Britain, especially those considering the questions about the purpose and meaning of life."

Birmingham diocese is engaging in the initiative through parishes in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and parts of Sandwell, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Church members are being asked to invite one friend to come back to church and churches have been given special invitations, prayer cards, posters and T-shirts and are being asked to make their services newcomer friendly.

Back to Church Sunday is being run in churches across the country as well as Birmingham.