A LANCASTER pub will swap booze for the bible from next month when regular church services begin there.

The 'Church in the pub' will take place at the Ridge Hotel from Sunday, March 17.

The scheme is the brainchild of pastor Ian Lockhart, who is keen to bring Christianity to a generation of people who have never been to church.

Meetings will also take place on Wednesday evenings when, Ian hopes, regulars will pop in to find out more about Christianity.

He told The Citizen: "We don't want to preach to people. What we want to do is discuss what we believe. We're going to start by looking at the fundamentals of Christianity.

"20 years ago most people knew something about Christianity because they would have been to Sunday school or even been taken to church themselves.

"Now, out of around 55,000 people in Lancaster, barely 1,000 go to church every Sunday.

"That begs the question what on earth is the church doing now? is it relevant?

"Now, most people wouldn't go near, or even darken the door of a church. We think people might feel more comfortable in an environment they are used to."

The church is being given two rooms in the pub, and Ian hopes to use one of them as a creche. Sunday services begin at 11.30am.

Although the Church in the pub will be non-denominational, Ian says his idea has the support of other churches in the area.