<p>A church in England has a unique way of attracting new followers -- by using pro-wrestling. St Peter's Anglican, also referred to as 'Wrestling Church', was started by 37-year-old Gareth Thompson. </p><p>As per a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/04/lifestyle/an-england-church-opens-its-doors-to-pro-wrestling-to-attract-converts/">report </a>by the <em>New York Post</em>, Thompson began this after he was "saved by pro-wrestling and Jesus". </p><p>Calling it the "good vs evil", Thompson said that after he became Christian, his perception towards wrestling was coming through 'Christian lens'. </p><p>"I started seeing David and Goliath. I started seeing Cain and Abel. I started seeing Esau having his heritage stolen from him. And I’m like, ‘We could tell these stories'," he said as reported by the publication.</p><p>Mentioning about the 2021 census, the publication stated that attendance of people in church has been declining, with less than half the population there considering themselves as Christians. </p>.Italy fines tour operators almost 20 million euros over Colosseum tickets hoarding.<p>Ones who believe in having no religion have touched the mark of 37 per cent from 25 per cent in a decade's time. Seeing the decline, the churches now have taken up the responsibility of becoming creative and attracting more followers.</p><p>Rev Natasha Thomas, the priest of the church, said that she wasn't "entirely sure" about this idea. "You’ve got to take a few risks," the priest said.</p><p>She further added that this church was "different" from the others and "certainly not for everyone". However, it was attracting a different group of people and community.</p><p>Recently, the church witnessed a crowd of 200 people gathering around the ring.</p><p>After prayer, a two-hour smackdown took place, the report said.</p><p>Thomson's charity Kingdom Wrestling also keeps training sessions for people and teaches self defence to women, along with a mental health session for men. The charity also provides coaching for students who got expelled from school.</p><p>The publication stated that very few people attend the Sunday morning services after watching the wrestling. However, the church has said to have baptised 30 people in their first year.</p><p>Thomson also believed that he wished to start his own church and take his idea to other cities too, it said. </p>
<p>A church in England has a unique way of attracting new followers -- by using pro-wrestling. St Peter's Anglican, also referred to as 'Wrestling Church', was started by 37-year-old Gareth Thompson. </p><p>As per a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/04/lifestyle/an-england-church-opens-its-doors-to-pro-wrestling-to-attract-converts/">report </a>by the <em>New York Post</em>, Thompson began this after he was "saved by pro-wrestling and Jesus". </p><p>Calling it the "good vs evil", Thompson said that after he became Christian, his perception towards wrestling was coming through 'Christian lens'. </p><p>"I started seeing David and Goliath. I started seeing Cain and Abel. I started seeing Esau having his heritage stolen from him. And I’m like, ‘We could tell these stories'," he said as reported by the publication.</p><p>Mentioning about the 2021 census, the publication stated that attendance of people in church has been declining, with less than half the population there considering themselves as Christians. </p>.Italy fines tour operators almost 20 million euros over Colosseum tickets hoarding.<p>Ones who believe in having no religion have touched the mark of 37 per cent from 25 per cent in a decade's time. Seeing the decline, the churches now have taken up the responsibility of becoming creative and attracting more followers.</p><p>Rev Natasha Thomas, the priest of the church, said that she wasn't "entirely sure" about this idea. "You’ve got to take a few risks," the priest said.</p><p>She further added that this church was "different" from the others and "certainly not for everyone". However, it was attracting a different group of people and community.</p><p>Recently, the church witnessed a crowd of 200 people gathering around the ring.</p><p>After prayer, a two-hour smackdown took place, the report said.</p><p>Thomson's charity Kingdom Wrestling also keeps training sessions for people and teaches self defence to women, along with a mental health session for men. The charity also provides coaching for students who got expelled from school.</p><p>The publication stated that very few people attend the Sunday morning services after watching the wrestling. However, the church has said to have baptised 30 people in their first year.</p><p>Thomson also believed that he wished to start his own church and take his idea to other cities too, it said. </p>
