The winning hydraulic lectern overcame strong competition to capture the first McNoot award for divine design. The ecclesiastical karaoke player, the solar-powered electronic Bible and the JCUK (Jesus Christ, United King) T-shirt were all vying for the prize. Four clergy from the South West judged around a dozen new church products at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Westpoint, near Exeter. Chair of the judging panel, Rev Ian Coffey, from Mutley Baptist Church, Plymouth, said: 'Most of us clergy like to stand 12 feet above contradiction - in the safety of our pulpits. "But this new lectern encourages us to step down and engage with our congregations and communicate more effectively."
 | | Holy socks are among the products shortlisted. |
The products entered for the award have been chosen to reflect different aspects of modern church life. In true Pop Idol style each company had just three and a half minutes to make its pitch in front of the panel.
OLD IDEAS MEET NEW
The shortlist included the Digital Hymnal, a briefcase sized karaoke player containing 1,500 hymns.
Designed for use in churches without organists and in old people's homes, it provides instant church music at the touch of a button.
Another gadget competing for the award was a wafer thin solar powered electronic bible.
The device plays recorded Bible readings in several different languages and is ideal for people who can't read.
 | | Over 1,000 hymns at the touch of a button. |
Holy socks, preaching puppets and a double glazing unit designed to protect stained glass windows are some of the other products that didn't quite make the grade.
"The event is often dubbed 'the ideal church show' - and this special competition will give visitors a chance to see some intriguing new products," explained event director Brett Pitchfork.
"All of them show churches are taking a
traditional message and making it accessible to a new generation."
Church leaders hope the new ideas will appeal to the younger generation and help reverse the steep decline in church attendances.
"We are supporting new ways of approaching communication," said show organiser Stephen Goddard.
"There's been a big reaction from companies trying much more creative ways of communicating.
"It's an anecdote to the haemorrhaging of numbers from of traditional churches."
Some 150 church suppliers, mission agencies and Christian organisations will exhibit at South West CRE. More than 3,000 people visited the first Christian Resources Exhibition in Torquay in 2002.
Seminar speakers include Rt Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter and Monsignor Robert Draper, Vicar General of Catholic Church in the
South West. The Christian Resources Exhibition is taking place at Westpoint between 5th and 7th February 2004.
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