|PIC1|St Pixels, an online church, is providing an essential service to hundreds of its congregants, new figures have revealed.

Recently released statistics showed that for a third of the online church's 2000 members, St Pixels is the main or only contact with traditional Christianity.

The survey was carried out by the experimental church and was featured earlier this week on the BBC Radio 2 documentary 'Faith on the Web', presented by Simon Mayo.

Jame, 19, a student who lives in Florida, USA (avatar attached) said: "I've no idea what I'd do without the friends I've made in St Pixels - though I've never met them. I've made tons of close buddies in Scotland, Korea and England."

He added, "No matter who you are, or where you're from, you will always find someone here to talk to. It's like a family home, where the door is always open for friends and their friends.

"I was baptised a Methodist but that's as far as it goes. I don't currently attend a physical church."

Mark Howe, one of St Pixels' programmers, said: "People join for a variety of reasons. We are accessible for those who cannot leave home due to infirmity or young children. It's also convenient for people whose working life does not fit with local church services - or who live far from a physical church.

"Members take part in discussions, pray for each other and play games - as well as worshipping together. Many travel considerable distances to meet 'in real life'."

St Pixels, supported by the Methodist Church, has more than 2000 registered members. According to the church some 1500 different people visit its website each day.