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Church is a-spiring to become reel film star

Emilene White
29/ 8/2007

A VICAR has a come up with a reel good way of getting her congregation to church.

Every month the Rev Helen Stubbs plans to convert Central Methodist Church into a cinema and show the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

She said: "My hope is that it will encourage people to see the church as a community building and stimulate conversation and discussion.

"The idea came after we showed two educational films - Amazing Grace about the end of slavery and Black Gold about Fairtrade coffee - and we had quite good attendance.

"I thought it would be nice to show films of a more general interest."

The first screening will be of the Beatrix Potter biopic, Miss Potter, on 21 September.

But Mrs Stubbs said she will not shy away from more controversial topics.

"I'd like to show Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth," she said.

"I want to show films that discuss issues of the day, that would include religion, things like interfaith issues."

The films will be shown on a 15ft screen, hired from a specialist company for the night.

For the moment they will be put on in the church hall as the windows have to be blacked out, but in winter the vicar said the church would be more comfortable.

There will even be Fairtrade snacks and drinks on offer for filmgoers.

The Peak Film Society currently shows one film a month at the Partington Theatre on Henry Street - the church will work with them to make sure they show different films.

Future screenings will be of Becoming Jane in October, Atonement in November and Ratatouille in December.

Tickets for films must be prebooked and will be available at £4 (children £3) either from coffee mornings on Fridays at 10-11.30am at the church on Chapel Street, by calling 01457 852422 or from Bay Tree Books, High Street West.