PARISHIONERS from a Bury church will be hoping to catch a glimpse of themselves on television next week, after their vicar traded experiences with a Sikh temple teacher.

While more earthly TV programmes show people swapping holidays or decorating ideas, the Granada series "Moving Spirit" shows Bury vicar the Rev Dr Frances Ward (pictured) sampling a religious ceremony at Cheetham Hill's Gurdwara temple.

Her Sikh counterpart, travelling teacher Harjindar Lalli, attended a traditional Anglican service at St Peter's Church in St Peter's Road, where Frances is vicar.

Cameras filmed both community leaders as they traded places in March, and met members of each other's congregations.

Frances said: "Harjindar found the service a bit formal, and I think people at the church found it a bit strange, but they were very welcoming."

After travelling in the opposite direction, Frances took off her shoes and donned a green ceremonial scarf to enter the temple.

And the two-and-a-half-hour session of meditation was something of a revelation for Frances. "At the end, the Sikhs folded cloths over the Granth Sahib, which is their name for their holy scriptures. and carried the book up to its bedroom and put it to bed," she said.

"They believe that the Holy Scriptures are living, and need to sleep like we do. It was very strange and rather wonderful."

Frances then experienced Sikh hospitality, joining families to eat curries and Punjabi food after the session. She also visited the temple school and watched a dancing display with swords.

The show, intended as a novel approach to religious programming, will be be aired on ITV at 11.30pm next Tuesday (July 31).

Frances said: "It was a very interesting encounter between two contemporary religions and the show is very innovative.

"The main benefit has been understanding more about another religion which I think is important in a multi-cultural society."