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Where will you be this Sunday? Well, statistically speaking, most people in Cumbria won't be at their local church.

According to the most recent census, Cumbria is actually one of the most Christian parts of England with more than eight out of ten of us giving this as their religion.  But church attendances have been falling steadily for many years.

Rev John Libby of St James' Church

So how relevant is the Christian faith in our county in 2009?  That's the question I set out to ask for BBC Cumbria.

I approached this from the personal perspective of being a  Christian and involved with my local church.  I also reckon I'm a pretty regular football watching, beer drinking,  married father of two - it's the "God bit" that doesn't fit the norm.

I'm only too aware that most people I deal with in my day to day life don’t share this faith - so what do they make of me? 
They might well reckon I’m a bit odd! 
Also many of the people I meet in church are from a generation or more older than me, and probably with a very different world view.

Rev Colin Randall of Wetheral Church

Interviews were conducted over a period of several months, the aim being to present a range of  points of view - both Christian and non-Christian.  
I spent time with the street evangelists  - the folk you usually cross the road to avoid.  I also made myself popular outside a supermarket on a  Sunday by asking people - very nicely I hope - why they didn't go to church.  

My own church is in a traditional Cumbrian village at the top of the Eden Valley. And it’s probably a traditional Cumbrian congregation.  It’s a beautiful historic building in a picturebook setting.  A very nice place for your wedding – it did the job for me!
We don’t do too badly for numbers, but with an ageing congregation that certainly won’t be the case ten years from now without an injection of youth.  Or even an injection of middle age would be a start!

By way of “compare and contrast”, I made a nuisance of myself with the thriving Anglican community at St. James’ in Carlisle.  There are big numbers on a Sunday, lots of young faces, and some inspiring stories.

Activities at St James' Church

From my own professional background in sports journalism I was also keen to see how faith and football went together.
I’ve interviewed many professional footballers over the years,  but usually about how their last minute winner made them feel.  This was the first time I’d sat in a grandstand and asked one of my favourite players – former Carlisle United midfielder Simon Hackney - about his Christian faith. 

I examined various aspects of how the Church is responding to our changing society.
At the end of the recording process, I have to say I was more optimistic than at the start.  This was due in part to the strong and often inspiring living faith held by many of the people I met. 

There was a wider sense that many people, even though they may reject Christianity, are on a spiritual quest; perhaps more so given the current climate around us.  And that, in this so-called secular society, gave me further grounds for optimism. 

Football managers whose sides are struggling to get wins often say they’re not too despondent so long as their players are creating chances.  To spin that as an analogy, so long as there are enough people out there still asking the questions ...

Finalist

This programme was a finalist in the 2009 Jerusalem Radio Awards, reaching the last four in the Good Friday category.
Now in its 15th year, The Jerusalem Awards promotes Christian involvement in broadcasting, mainly in radio.