Why are church services being held in a village pub?

A congregation has swapped the traditional bread and wine of Holy Communion for a full English and a pint as a church holds its services in a village pub.

Former publican and now priest, Reverend Paul Mundy, took a Sunday service at The Five Bells in Chailey, East Sussex, while maintenance work is carried out at the nearby St Peter's Church.

Pub owner Tom Stovold said it was the first time a service had been held at the pub in living memory.

More than 50 people attended the service, including the church choir and organist.

Father Martin Morgan, who is to take a service at the pub on Sunday, said it was part of a wider partnership between church and pub, but was accelerated by the need for maintenance work to install a new floor at St Peter's Church.

"We decided last year that we ought to get pub and church much closer together to help create more of a community," he told the BBC.

He said a large Harvest Festival event was held at the pub last year, as well as a Christmas carols evening.

"When it came up that we had to move out of the church, we were very lucky that the owner, Tom, and landlord Melle offered us the space," Morgan added.

The first service consisted of usual readings, hymns and Holy Communion, followed by a blessing for the pub and a prayer for all pubs in hard times.

Parishioners were also invited to stay for a full English breakfast and bacon butties after the service.

Stovold said it was important for the last remaining pub in the village and the church - which are less than 300 yards apart - to both make everyone feel welcome "with no barriers".

"We're not a community pub, but we're all about community," he added.

"And you certainly got a better turnout than you do in a church. But I don't know if that was the breakfast afterwards."

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