A PRESTON vicar believes a controversial new advertising campaign, launched by the church, could attract more people to the pews.

A poster, to be put up around the country, depicts the image of Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara wearing a crown of thorns, like the one worn by Jesus on the cross.

Despite widespread criticism within the church, vicars in Preston are confident the new campaign will encourage locals to visit church on Easter Sunday.

Hoardings in New Hall Lane have been booked to carry the poster, which reads: 'As if - Discover the real Jesus on April 4'.

Rev Dale Barton, of St Stephen's CE in Broadgate, Preston, says the illustration will give people something to think about.

He said: "This should blow away the myth that Jesus is just wet and wimpy.

"He was a revolutionary and, while he didn't use the same violent means as Che Guevara, he did revolutionise the world.

"As a church we have looked at what we do to show the real Jesus instead of the soft image which has become common."

Rev Don Gilkes, of St John's CE Church in Clayton-le-Woods, said the poster would change the image of Jesus for good.

He said: "Jesus was the greatest revolutionary of all time and while I have my doubts about the similarity of the two revolutions and the way each was perceived at the time, it does get the message across.

"It escapes from the traditional, powdery image of Jesus once and for all."

A spokesman for the Blackburn diocese said they hoped the campaign, devised by the The Church Advertising Network, would show a different side to Jesus.

"There was more to him than the saintly image seen in stained-glass windows," he said.

It isn't the first time the church has deployed shock tactics to swell congregations. Last year, a picture of the mass of flowers placed down at the time of Princess Diana's death were shown, with the words: 'If this got you thinking, carry on at Easter'.

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