Michael Palin offers personal tour for church auction

Sir Michael Palin is a vice president of the National Churches Trust

An online auction is offering the chance of having Sir Michael Palin as a private tour guide for the day at a church in Kent.

The Monty Python star and his son, Will Palin, will have lunch with the auction prize winner and up to three guests as part of a tour of Sheerness Dockyard Church.

This prize is one of more than 50 being offered to help the National Churches Trust raise funds to help keep churches open.

Sir Michael, who is vice president of the trust, said: "We must not be afraid to try and use our churches, open them for believers and non-believers, and even ‘agnostics with doubts’ to enjoy."

'Heritage challenge'

The 19th Century Grade II* Listed church on the Isle of Sheppey was completely restored after being gutted by a fire in 2001.

The restoration was overseen by Will Palin.

Sir Michael said: "I feel very strongly that if the idea of a community is to mean anything at all, then we must value the churches that are at their centre."

Other experiences up for auction include the chance to join Pointless host Alexander Armstrong in the Classic FM studio as he presents his show.

Also on offer is a private tour of Sr Bart's Church, in London, with Mock the Week star Hugh Dennis.

National Churches Trust chief executive Claire Walker said: “The future of the UK’s churches is the biggest heritage challenge today."

The Going, Going, Saved! online auction opens on Friday and will run until 5pm on Friday 28 June.