For some, the sanctum aids a deep and serene night’s sleep. Others find their slumber disturbed by a chill and the company of bats. Either way, camping in churches – “champing” – has proved a huge hit in recent years. Now it is set to spread to more places of worship in the UK and Europe in anticipation of record demand.
Champing started four years ago at All Saints in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire, a grade I-listed medieval church with limestone arches inside and carved birds and beasts on the exterior. It was declared redundant in 1976, and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, which promotes champing as a way of raising funds to maintain and protect ancient buildings.
This year, 18 disused churches are inviting the public to sleep on camp beds squeezed between pews or beneath stained-glass windows. Almost 2,000 people champed in 2018; enquiries suggest demand will be even higher this summer.
And, although the CCT is responsible only for churches that are no longer used for worship, there is growing interest from functioning churches in champing as a way to raise money for repairs and to open their buildings to the community.
ht/Dee
My church is above 5000 ft in the El Dorado National Forrest.
I’ll bet a good bean fart can bounce around in those acoustics for a few minutes!
Remember all those churches Jesus built during his time on earth so that he didn’t have to go out and minister to the public? Me neither.
This may be the only time a lot of these people have actually been inside a church. God’s presence may still be there since he is everywhere but they wouldn’t know it even if they were smacked upside the head with an epiphany and divine revelation that showed God to be real. Sweet dreams, may God haunt them.
Nothing new, catholic priests have had young boys champing overnight for centuries.
Don’t you really mean chomping?
Meh. When the muzzies complete their take over of the UK, these churches will be converted into mosques.