The BBC reports on the Church of England’s “prayer for the current financial situation” published online six months ago and which 40,000 have visited. It begins:

“Lord God, we live in disturbing days: across the world prices rise, debts increase, banks collapse, jobs are taken away, and fragile security is under threat.”

To reduce the decline in church-going, British ministers are trying all sorts of initiatives: “offering chocolate bars to tempt back their ‘flock’, advertising at football matches and even creating a virtual church, complete with 3-D animated vicar.”