Andy Burnham: 'Churches should be turned into gyms'

Or they might want to try evangelism !

Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, has suggested churches with low attendance could be turned into gyms, restaurants and multi-faith centres.

Mr Burnham said while it was important to preserve the architectural beauty of some of the churches, many of which have listed status, they may serve the community better by becoming secular.

His comments follow his suggestion earlier this month that libraries could benefit from being modernised with coffee bars and abolishing the silence rule.

Mr Burnham said if the UK could not preserve its churches: "We need to find new purposes with the support of the local community and we need to increase secular interest in our church heritage."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/3291865/Andy-Burnham-Churches-should-be-turned-into-gyms.html