The north London atheist church is barely three months old but it already has more “worshippers” than can fit into its services, while more than 200 non-believers worldwide have contacted organisers to ask how they can set up their own branch.
Officially named the Sunday Assembly, the church was the brainchild of two comedians, Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones.
Held in an airy, ramshackle former church, their quirky monthly meetings combine music, speeches and moral pondering with large doses of humour.
At a recent Sunday service, which had a volunteering theme, songs included “Help” by the Beatles and “Holding Out For A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler.
The service ended with big cheers and shouts of “who would like a cup of tea?” – this is Britain, after all.
The church leaders cheerfully admit that they have “ripped off” many elements of their non-religious services from the Christian Church.
“You’re asking people to do new things, so it makes sense for it to be familiar,” said Jones.
Some religious people have been broadly supportive of the aims of the atheist church.
The assembly met the approval of local Anglican vicar Dave Tomlinson, who came from his church two miles away to see what his new rivals were up to.