AN 800-year-old South Lakeland church is embracing the 21st Century with what is believed to be a world first attraction for a place of worship.

A new permanent virtual reality experience, called 'The Young Martyr', launches at Cartmel Priory next week and will transport viewers back to 1537 to the time of the reformation, focusing on the monks based at the priory.

Upon learning that King Henry VIII's army were headed their way, the monks had the chance to flee but instead made the brave decision to stay to try protect the priory.

“I believe any medium that allows us to engage with new audiences and make churches feel more accessible is worth exploring," said vicar Nick Devenish.

“Virtual reality allows us to tell the story of those brave monks in an incredibly engaging and exciting way. To feel like you are there with them, in the moment, adds a degree of understanding that other mediums could not convey.

“It truly makes the monks’ brave actions seem all the more remarkable and we welcome all to come and experience it.”

The attraction has been designed with the help of Manchester-based creative agency Holdens

Project lead George Bennett said: “It’s no secret that churches have seen attendances dropping in recent years, as a result, many have been forced to close or merge.

“Working with Nick and the team was a breath of fresh air. His vision for the Priory as a place that can offer something for all, regardless of faith, is a model that will help to secure its future.

“Whether it’s through the VR experience, tours of the building, theatre shows or musical performances - becoming a place of experiences will allow the Priory to continue as a place of worship.”

The launch event will be held on Tuesday and visitors will be able to experience the attraction for free (usually £5 per person). The event is scheduled to begin at 11am and finish at 5pm.

It will include:

•free tickets for the VR experience

•multiple VR set-ups to reduce waiting times

•in-depth art installation detailing the development process

•guided tours of Cartmel Priory

To register your interest and stay up-to-date with the event, visit the Facebook event page: http://bit.ly/cartmelprioryvr