A VICAR took a three-month break from his ministry to go on a film-making course.

The Rev Andrew Fordyce has long been a keen amateur movie-maker.

He hopes what he learned will help him make online films which can attract more churchgoers to St Margaret’s Church, Berechurch, Colchester.

His employer, the Chelmsford of Diocese is backing his plan to post sermons on the Youtube video website.

It is even giving him £1,200 to buy equipment.

Mr Fordyce said: “I had an idea for a sermon and didn’t feel I could do it justice without filming at the location.

“I wanted to talk about feeding the 5,000 and asked where could you feed 5,000 people.

“I thought the best place was Colchester United’s stadium.

“I got the camera we had and the stadium said I could film there.

“So instead of being a story that was 2,000 years old, it was re-lived today.

“Another time, I was going on holiday and needed to cover a sermon, so I decided to film it .

“My congregation enjoyed the difference. I got to the point where I was filming a lot and needed to be trained in this.”

Mr Fordyce, who is married with two children, went on the digital film-making course in Manchester.

He has made a number of short films, including one about the history of Christians in Colchester, which is due to go live on Youtube in January.

He also plans to show the films in his church.

Mr Fordyce said: “I’m quite a visual person. I studied theatre studies, and when I read the Bible, I tend to visualise it.

“People do rely on films and television and have quite a visual take on things.

“As vicar and priest, I want to communicate to as many people as possible.

“I have 10,000 parishioners and there is no way I can knock on every door and chat to people.

“Getting the film on the church website is a way I can get out to all those people.”