IT was Amy Oliver’s auntie who invited her to come ‘back to church’. And she liked it so much, came back the following week.

The Rev Carrie Thompson welcomes Amy Oliver and Lee Dewhurst to St John's Church, Forton, in Gosport on Back to Church Sunday

Amy and her boyfriend, Lee Dewhurst, went to St John the Evangelist Church in Forton, as part of Back to Church Sunday – a national initiative to encourage worshippers to invite their friends, relatives and work colleagues along.

The Gosport church was one of 11 churches in south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight taking part in the initiative. The outside and inside of St John’s were covered in helium balloons, volunteers wore special ‘welcome’ t-shirts, and lunch was given to worshippers afterwards. And Amy and Lee came back again for the parish's pet blessing service the following weekend.

Amy said: “I used to go to church when I lived in Glasgow, but I’ve only been to a few services here. I came today because Stephanie invited me. I like the vicar, Mother Carrie. She made it very enjoyable. And I’m coming next week with my cat for the blessing service.”

Her boyfriend, Lee, said: “I’d never been to church before, but I said I’d like to, because I was intrigued to see what it was all about. I didn’t expect all this food and to be chatting over a glass of wine afterwards. But everyone has been really friendly.”

The church was also celebrating its dedication festival – the 102nd anniversary of the church building. The vicar, the Rev Carrie Thompson, preached about how all of those who bring Jesus’ good news are like angels. After the service, regulars and newcomers alike were treated to Chinese and Malaysian food, specially prepared by one of the congregation, as well as hot chilli, sandwiches, puddings, wine and beer.

The national ‘Back to Church Sunday’ initiative – now in its fourth year – is likely to see more than 30,000 extra people in church over the weekend. It’s based on research that millions of non-churchgoers would come to services if they were invited by their friends. Each potential visitor is given a special ‘VIP’ invitation card, which assures them of a warm welcome. Last year, there were 20,000 extra people in the pews.

In Portsmouth’s Anglican diocese, eight parishes took part in a pilot scheme. If it proves successful, the initiative will spread throughout the diocese next year. The pilot parishes are:

- St Saviour’s, Stamshaw, and St Alban’s, Copnor, in Portsmouth;

- St Wilfrid’s, Cowplain;

- St Mary Magdalen, Sheet, near Petersfield;

- St Peter’s, Soberton and Holy Trinity, Newtown, near Bishop’s Waltham;

- Holy Rood and St Edmund’s, Stubbington, near Fareham;

- St John the Evangelist, Forton, in Gosport;

- All Saints, Calbourne, and St Michael’s, Shalfleet, on the Isle of Wight; and

- Christ Church and St John’s Church, Sandown, on the Isle of Wight.

They have been chosen because of the variety of their worship styles, geographical locations and the size of the congregations they represent. In addition, three other parishes also chose to take part this year – St Mark’s and St Edmund’s, Wootton, on the Isle of Wight; St Mary’s, Alverstoke, in Gosport, and St Francis, North End, in Portsmouth.

Most of the special services took place on Sunday 28 September – except those at St Michael’s, Shalfleet, and St Mark’s, Wootton, which is on Sunday 5 October, and at All Saints, Calbourne, on Sunday 12 October. Those three services have been planned to coincide with harvest festivals at Shalfleet, Wootton and Calbourne. And worshippers from St Edmund’s Church, Crofton, will also invite friends to a midweek Communion service on Thursday, as well as to Sunday services.

The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth has not embraced this scheme because of declining numbers. In fact attendances increased by three per cent in 2006 and the indications are that attendance figures will be higher still in 2007. Christmas congregations at Portsmouth cathedral have increased by 500 per cent over the past 10 years, prompting it to lay on three identical carol services in 2007 to cope with the demand.

A total of 38 of the 43 Church of England dioceses, plus Baptist, Methodist, URC and Elim churches, and Anglican churches in Scotland, Wales, New Zealand and Canada, are taking part. The initiative began in Manchester in 2004, and has been growing steadily ever since.

Participating parishes are provided with Back to Church Sunday packs, which include invitations, posters, prayer cards, balloons and ‘welcome’ t-shirts made from organic Fairtrade cotton.

Research by the Diocese of Lichfield after last year’s Back to Church Sunday suggested that 6,000 people came back to church on that day and that, six months later, between 700 and 900 (12-15 per cent) had become regular members. About a further 3,000 are still in touch with their inviting churches and may have come at Christmas or to a social event. For more information, see www.backtochurch.co.uk