The Lord Jesus Christ does not need the active support of secular governments or secular cultures to build His Church. Clearly though, if Britain did fall to political Islam in, say, the middle of this century, then that would create serious difficulties for public Christianity in what was this country.

People who are hesitant will be able to see how it works out and they will see that the sky isn't going to fall in

Rev Christina Beardsley, who is a member of The Sibyls, a Christian spirituality group for transgender people, claimed that churches in England would benefit by using the same model.

In what will be seen as a striking departure from its Christian traditions, senior clergy at the Minster have quietly introduced a new form of spiritual enrichment altogether: Zen Buddhist meditation. A new "sangha" -- meaning community or order -- has been set up under the auspices of the Minster chapter and meets within the medieval precincts every other Friday for an hour and a half's silent meditation.

St Augustine is 'perhaps the greatest thinker in the Western spiritual and secular tradition of intellectual and philosophical thought the West has produced,' he said. 'We intend to be a church of the highest calibre in helping people to think about their faith critically and creatively.'

St Augustine is honoured in the Catholic and Protestant traditions said Rev Gomes.