London, England, Sep 16, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Anglican Church in England has jumped into the fray of reality TV in the hopes of reviving a dying church.
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Lundwood in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has a congregation of only nine, mainly aging, regular worshippers. It hopes that by participating in a new reality TV program on Channel 4, called Priest Idol, it will be able to attract a new vicar who can fill up the church pews.
A selection process will attempt to find the right candidate, who is likely to be younger than the average vicar, according to Channel 4. The chosen vicar will receive a sum of cash to spend on whatever he or she thinks could turn things around.
Cameras will then follow the church community over 12 months.