Reports from across the Church of England suggest that Christmas 2005 was a highly successful period for winning back believers to the pews.

|TOP|College Chapel in Cambridge was just one such church to see huge numbers turn out for its special Christmas programme, with hundreds trying to get a seat at their annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

All over the country, churches have reported a growth in the number of people seeking the opportunity to worship.

Portsmouth, Southwell, Hereford and Lichfield Cathedrals all had such large numbers visiting during the previous Christmas period that they were forced to add extra carol services to their Advent programmes this year. Demand in 2004 was so overwhelming that worshippers had to be turned away.

In total, a massive 1200 people flocked to each of the Hereford services, while Portsmouth held two identical children’s crib services back-to-back on the afternoon of Christmas Eve in order to meet the huge rise in demand.

|QUOTE|Canon Andrew Wilson, the Rector of Calstock in the south east of Cornwall, found 2005 to be one of the best Christmases he can remember.

“Numbers were up at every service, with over 1000 coming to church, which is much more than we would normally see,” he said.

Canon Richard Stranack, Vicar of Stratton with Launcells, also reported a hugely successful Christmas: “Our crib service at Launcells has never seen so many children and their families.

“The Church was packed, which is very heartening.”

|AD|Just down the road from Stratton, at Boscastle, the focus for the Seaside Parish series on BBC 2, Priest in Charge the Revd Christine Musser, said she had been amazed by the numbers at all Christmas services.

“We try to provide something for everyone at Christmas and I have been really pleased that so many people in the parishes have wanted to be involved in taking part which is, I believe, what ministry is about,” she said.

The Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield, offered an explanation in his New Year message for the sudden surge in numbers over Advent.

He said a record number of people came to Lichfield Cathedral for the four main Christmas services, and reported that “congregations have been increasing for several years”.

"One reason may well be people's sense that our world has cut loose from its moorings in Christian values and in a belief in a good God who gives us wise teaching on how we should live together under his laws,” he said.

“Those who came wanted to put the Christ back into Christmas and into our national life."