We don't know exactly when the first race-meeting took place at Cartmel, but we're pretty sure that it was the monks from Cartmel Priory who were among the first to take part.

Apparently there is a document, somewhere in the vaults of York Minster, which records a visit paid to Cartmel by the Bishop of York. Having crossed the sands of Morecambe Bay on foot, the Bishop was mightily displeased to discover that there was no reception committee – the monks having bunked off to enjoy a day of sports, including races, on a nearby park.

Today the link between Cartmel Racecourse and Cartmel Priory remains as strong as ever and the vicar, the Rev Nick Devenish, holds an additional responsibility as 'Chaplain to the Races'.

Each year, on the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the priory hosts a special service to celebrate the races – after which Nick Devenish blesses a racehorse outside the main porch.

The congregation has been swelled in recent years by racegoers who have journeyed from afar to visit the races – a different type of pilgrim from those that accompanied the Bishop across the bay, but pilgrims none the less.

The Steeplechase Service is my second favourite religious event of the year, beaten a short head by Harvest Festival, which boasts the best hymns and the most inventive floral displays.

Each event gives us an opportunity to celebrate life: our life at work, our life at leisure - or possibly both, depending on your perspective. We give thanks for the world that we live in; for the good things that come from hard work, patience, teamwork and respect for the living things around us.

When asked to contribute to this column, it was suggested that the piece should provoke thought or maybe even debate. So, on the basis that politics and religion are likely to stimulate the most debate (and that the date of the Scottish referendum has passed), here is my question: Wouldn't every business benefit from sharing closer links with the Church?

Imagine: We could have Prayers for the Power Industry, Worship for Waiters (or Window Cleaners), and Devotion for Dancers, Dentists and Dermatologists.

Unfortunately, it just isn't very fashionable at the moment to say that we believe in God – even the Archbishop of Canterbury recently said that he had doubts (although he may have mentioned this to let us all know that it is fine to have doubts too).

And Church can be intimidating for infrequent visitors - there is nothing quite so unsettling as listening to people chanting a common set of words, while you have no idea what they're saying (and I'm not talking about the football terraces at Celtic or Rangers).

For those that prefer to take their religion without words, there is a new service at the Priory at 5pm on Fridays – when the congregation gathers in silent contemplation for half an hour or so. It is a great way to mark the end of the working week and the start of the weekend.

A six-year-old recently told me that she'd consider going to church only if there was more singing and less talking - the inference being that church is a bit boring.

Our contact with the church should enlightening, not frightening – and fun, not austere. For those that prefer a little more jollity, here's my suggestion…

There are approximately two months to go until Christmas, the most commercialised of all religious festivals.

Why not arrange your own Company Christmas Carol Service to precede the annual Christmas Party – or maybe stage it afterwards and pray that God forgives people who dance badly to the Birdie Song and Paul McCartney's Frog Chorus mega-mix.