CHURCHES are turning to the joy of text in a bid to pack the pews.

During the autumn, churches across Lancaster and Morecambe will be hosting Alpha courses and the ultra-modern text technology is just part of an advertising campaign to promote the initiative.

"We can rejoice that half of our congregation is under 25 but that is unusual because there isn't the same tradition of church-going as there used to be," says the Reverend Peter Guinness of St Thomas's Church in Lancaster.

"Now we want to attract more people to church to discover the truth about Jesus.

"The events are ecumenical and are open to everybody. We will welcome people from all over to St Thomas and then, if they wish, they can return to their own church."

Over the last few years, church attendance throughout Britain has slumped to fewer than one in 12 people and the Alpha courses are designed to create more interest and involvement in the Christian faith.

"We are advertising on billboards, in taxis, outside churches and on buses," says Alpha spokesman Chris Burrows.

"And this year we thought we would use the text messages as well simply because so many people have mobile phones.

"Anyone can send a text to Alpha 60030 and they will receive a thought-provoking message back," added Mr Burrows.