Skip to main content.
« Previous entry: Present Aid | Main page | Next entry: Response from the ‘Priest Idol’ marketing company »

November 14th, 2005

Priest Idol (Programme 1)

I’m sure a lot of people will find reasons to be negative about the Channel 4 programme Priest Idol, aired tonight and mentioned here on the Cartoon Blog last week. The programme, as you may remember, features the church of St Mary Magdalene in Lundwood, near Barnsley, which is about to close unless the new Vicar can turn things around.

But, despite the fact the marketing people brought in to help do seem to have a certain lack of understanding of the Christian message (not their fault), and despite the fact that the outgoing Vicar does himself no favours with his negativity I did find the programme really quite inspiring.

All credit to Father James McCaskill, the new priest, who put a lot of energy into getting out into the community and meeting the people. That surely has to be the first step.

But it’s the local comedian who, despite not being a churchgoer, seems to have the most useful advice. To quote the channel 4 page: “It is Toby Foster who, with one small demonstration, shows Father James the difference between a dry sermon and what makes people listen to what you say“. Lets hope Father James can put his storytelling tips into practice. I’m looking forward to episode 2.

My advice to Vicars everywhere: Go and find a local stand up comedian and ask them for some advice on communicating with an audience every week.

Update: See also the next post ‘Response from the Priest Idol marketing company‘.

Update 2: There is an interview with Father James here on Christianity Today.

Update 3: Richard at Connexions has made a few posts on the subect (here and the next three posts), Church Marketing Sucks has posted and I’ve been writing rubbish over in the comments at Yasmin’s blog (down at the time of writing).



This is a single Cartoon Blog entry, posted by Dave on Monday, November 14th, 2005 at 9:43 pm.

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy these (possibly) related articles:

Know someone else who might enjoy this post? Click here to send this to a friend. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

The technologically advanced may like to trackback from another site, follow responses to this post via the RSS 2.0 feed, or bookmark this post on del.icio.us or digg.

6 Responses to “Priest Idol (Programme 1)”


  1. Yasmin says:

    Hello, just been posting on this myself. I like your comments and would agree with what you say, but in the end i found it a real wind up. I think the church is so obviously out of touch. The American priest was doing good stuff, but he still was fundamentally trying to ‘get them in the gate’. And leaflets printed on coloured paper are NEVER going to get people in to a church service, no matter what font you use.
    Looking forward to next week.

    November 14th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
  2. Dave says:

    Thanks for dropping by Yasmin,

    I’ll comment on some of the points in your blog post in a mo. But about the coloured paper - why not? Surely it depends where you live. Maybe in some places you need to print something expensive to get through, but over here at least we get a load of photocopied sheets of coloured paper through the door every day. Estate agents, menus, you name it. And if its an acceptable means of communication in the place you live why not use it.

    November 14th, 2005 at 10:51 pm
  3. Olive Morgan says:

    I was sorry to miss this TV programme, but I can testify to the difference that comedy makes to sermons. Our minister, with his ready Irish wit, certainly ensures that we listen to his sermons - even if some still struggle with his accent!

    November 15th, 2005 at 12:42 am
  4. Yasmin says:

    The colour isn’t really the issue is it? It’s the method of communication I have a problem with. Humans run on relationships. New people will come to church because they know someone who will walk through the door with them, sit with them, show them when to stand, what to say, when to say it and be there for them in that awkward moment after the blessing when it’s finished, but no-one knows quite what to do.

    People will not cross such a high cultural and social threshold with only a piece of paper (expensive or not) for company.

    In ministry too often we just don’t realise this. We’re busy and think they just need the practical info (times etc.) on a handout.

    November 15th, 2005 at 1:05 am
  5. Dave says:

    Welcome Olive. Yes indeed, some humour in a sermon helps. Though in this case the comedian had a lot to teach the Vicar just in terms of his general manner and style.

    Yasmin. Absolutely, being invited to church is the ideal. But this parish hadn’t reached the stage of having anyone there in the first place to invite their friends to church. I think the Vicar did the best he could in the circumstance which is to go out and talk to the people where they are, taking with him a leaflet with the service details on. I think that letting people know he and the church was there was as good a first step as he could make on the first week, even if none of them came along. But yes, if in a few months time giving out leaflets was all they were doing something would be wrong.

    November 15th, 2005 at 11:21 am
  6. Yasmin says:

    I see what you’re saying. “I think the Vicar did the best he could in the circumstance ” - absolutely, I would agree.
    Something I thought about was this whole idea of one-man-band if there was a team (I know-resources probably wouldn’t stretch to this!) but then there would be people who could walk alongside while others lead the service.

    But you’re right, it all takes time, and we’ve only seen the first episode!

    November 15th, 2005 at 7:36 pm