A ROSSENDALE vicar is swapping the pulpit for the podcast by distributing his sermons online.

Rev Richard Booth, the vicar at Lumb Baptist Church, is reaching out to members of his congregation, who can not make regular Sunday services, on iTunes.

He has been uploading recordings of his sermons to the internet which can be listened to as ‘podcasts’.

The 50-year-old vicar, who has been at the helm of the Burnley Road East church for two years, said: “I have been creating podcasts from my sermons for several months now.

“It is an added extra for parishioners who for one reason or another can not make it to church every Sunday.

“It also enables me to spread my message to those people who don’t want to attend a conventional church service.

“I think over the next few years more and more churches will be creating podcasts as its a good way to retain congregation numbers.”

Lumb Baptist Church has a congregation of around 90 members.

As well as finding Sunday Services, parishioners can also access recorded bible study sessions.

Rev Booth, a married father-of-two said: “I have found that many members of the congregation have tried out the podcasts and found them really useful.

“I have my own specialist tech person who uploads them for me.

“We have a Sunday school which runs at the same time as the morning service, and many of our teachers have to leave the service early with the children, and they all use the podcast so catch up.

“As far as I am aware we are the only church in Rossendale offering podcasts, however many of the big city churches have be doing this for a while.”

The podcasts can be found at www.lumbbaptist.org.uk/