A CHURCH steeped in history with the pulling power to attract thousands of visitors a year has been short-listed for a national prize.

St Peter's Church in Heysham - hailed by staunch supporters as the bay's most captivating retreat - has reached the final 12 in the nationwide 'Search for a Church'.

Its success will see St Peter's featured on a 2004 calendar - but it also stands a chance of winning the top £1,000 cash prize.

The competition, run by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, hopes to encourage more people to visit churches nearby and further a field.

To take part churches were asked to give 10 reasons why people should visit them and the surrounding area.

The winner will be named in November.

The Rev David Tickner says: "If you go all the way round the bay, would there be anything that could compete with this little section here - the church, ruins of the monastery and the chapel?

"This is what made Hey-sham. Would you find anything around the bay that you would remember so vividly? This is as good as it gets."

He says St Peter's annually welcomes tens of thousands of visitors. It has church videos to offer, publications, tearooms and also stages concerts and other events .

Being short-listed was 'recognition of those who worked hard to welcome visitors', adds Rev Tickner.

He says if St Peter's wins the top prize he would like to buy a data projector to keep up with the times.

"We need to communicate in a way that people respond to, such as with video clips. We get lots of people coming here for pilgrimages. I would like to show what the church is like when the crocuses are out, the Rose Queen procession - to show it is not just about history but that the church is really alive in this community now."

Competition judges said they were impressed with the grade one listed building of Celtic origin, which St Patrick is reputed to have visited.

"Naturally that attracts a lot of visitors and the church made this a starting point for a whole range of imaginative activities, including a video, garden of remembrance and a link with the local tourist office for a variety of festivals culminating in the summer rose queen procession."