Nottingham's World Cup Chapel

Fr David Cain of the Nottingham diocese

The World Cup has kicked off and so a new 'religious' fervour sweeps across the world - for one billion people the next four weeks will be spent worshipping at the shrine of football. According to the BBC, one priest of the diocese of Nottingham (in the Westminster province) has even set up a 'World Cup Chapel' in the complex of his Cathedral:

A Nottingham priest is hoping to draw football fanatics into church by creating his own World Cup chapel. Father David Cain has decorated the parish centre at St Barnabas' Cathedral with flags of nations competing in the World Cup. Fans will be allowed to come into the Roman Catholic church and pray for their team during the tournament.

Father Cain also hopes the display will encourage different nationalities to join together. He said: 'Understandably, many people will be fiercely cheering on their own nation. I believe sport, and football in particular can provide a great bridge in promoting harmony between nations despite differences that exist in race, religion or politics.'

He said the late Cardinal Hume was a big supporter of Newcastle United and Pope John Paul II was a keen footballer and goalkeeper in his younger days. Father Cain said the main places where people engage in communal singing are in church or on the terraces.

Sadly, the chanting of drunk England supporters in the streets of Frankfurt this evening were not exactly according to the Gregorian modes of the Liber usualis. However, we pray that every man in the England team will do his duty tomorrow afternoon as they face Paraguay.