ST WALBURGE'S has been dubbed the most filmed church on British television after it was announced it is to appear on the small screen for the eighteenth time in two years.

It will feature on ITV's My Favourite Hymns after a TV crew film seven special services, each with a different theme, in March.

Granada researcher Mark Smith said: "I think St Walburge's must hold some kind of record as the most filmed church on British television.

"We have filmed 15 times there in the last two years, and BBC's Songs of Praise has been there twice."

A live Advent service was also filmed there in 2001.

The church, which has the second tallest spire in the country and can be seen for miles around, will play host to the Granada TV cameras for a week as they film services including Easter, harvest festival, disability awareness, Advent and Welsh revival. They will be shown throughout 2004.

One of the visiting ministers is the 'original' Vicar of Dibley, Church of England vicar, Richenda Leigh, who became a star after having the hit BBC series based around her experiences in the church.

Father Peter Sayer, St Walburge's parish priest, said the fame has not gone to his head: "The church is the real star," he said. "I'm not looking to go off and be a celeb in the jungle just yet!"

He said the reason the Roman Catholic church in Weston Street is the most filmed on British TV is because it is the ideal place in which to worship God.

"It's a really beautiful building," he said. "From the TV crew's point of view its size makes it really easy to film in.

"We say to them that the church is theirs for a week and take out particularly Catholic things, like the Blessed Sacrament, because the services are for different Christian denominations."

Father Sayer said it is nice to see the church packed to the rafters. "There is a lot of criticism directed at people who may just come to church when the cameras are rolling.

"But I don't mind, it's lovely to see so many people there." Members of the public are welcome to attend the services which are all free of charge.

Dates, times and tickets are available from Mark Smith on 0161 8272218 or by contacting him at mark.smith.gtv@granadamedia.com. Free coach travel is available for groups of 30 or more.