CHURCHGOERS in Turton are to help paint a picture of Christianity across the globe in a survey.

Parishioners from St. Anne's Church, High Street, Turton, and St James Church, Blackburn Road, Edgworth, will join an estimated 250,000 Christians across the country to complete the Church Life Profile.

The survey is believed to be one of the largest Christian-based studies ever undertaken. Parishioners will be asked to fill in forms after services this Sunday. The survey will cover areas such as evangelism, preferred styles of worship, frequency of church attendance and nature of belief.

Churches from America and Australia will also be participating.

The survey -- designed to paint an accurate picture of churchlife -- will be conducted by the statistical body Churches' Information for Mission.

Chief executive Alison Gelder said: "It's aim is to offer practical, mission-focused help to local churches. And at a national level we will at last have the data to flesh out theories about changes in the frequency of church attendance and the contribution churches make to their communities."

North Turton churches will receive a localised version of the results early next year.

Churches wanting further information should visit www.cim.org.uk or contact Churches Information for Mission on 020-8241 0847.