A church has begun hosting WWE-style wrestling shows combined with prayer and worship in a bid to attract more parishioners.
St Peter’s Church in Shipley has begun hosting Kingdom Wrestling, a Christian professional wrestling charity that combines its show with prayer, worship and witness.
The charity began hosting shows at Fountains Church in Bradford, where founder Gareth ‘Angel’ Thompson built an adult training school in 2021.
Three years later, Kingdom Wrestling has built a dedicated fan base, baptized more than 30 people, and performed dozens of shows.
Thompson, 37, said The times: ‘Any Christian will tell you that when you go through life, you struggle with things, you struggle with your faith.
‘When you face a really difficult challenge, how do you see God in that challenge and how do you continue to stay in faith? “I really feel like wrestling gives us the opportunity to tell those stories.”
After starting out in Bradford, Thompson moved Kingdom Wrestling to Shipley, where he lives with his pregnant wife and two daughters.
There, local Reverend Natasha Thomas, acting priest of St. Peter’s Church, immediately accepted the idea.
Wrestlers compete at St. Peter’s Church as part of the Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble
The Revd Natasha Thomas is the interim priest at St Peter’s Church in Shipley.
The events feature male and female wrestlers competing against each other in the church.
‘Posh Princess’ Kiara (left) has been performing for Kingdom Wrestling for two years
Wrestler Gareth Angel walks ahead of competing at the Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble
The Church of England has struggled with declining numbers in recent years, with data suggesting attendance at Sunday services has fallen by more than 20 per cent since the pandemic and more than 25 per cent of churches do not hold a service every week.
Rev Thomas said it was a “wonderful opportunity” to open the space to the public and said it showed the church was a “living building”.
She hopes the wrestling church will attract people who would normally never go to church.
After watching the performances, she herself also admitted that she loved performances and stories of good triumphing over evil.
The wrestling charity also works with local schools, a training school, self-defence classes for women and a mental health group for men.
Thompson said he is in talks with other churches in England and Wales about creating similar initiatives.
At events, Reverend Thomas reads a prayer in the ring before the match begins.
Mr. Thompson’s love of wrestling stemmed from watching the sport with his grandmother growing up, as an escape from a troubled home.
Wrestlers wait to have their portraits taken at St Peter’s Church in Shipley.
Wrestlers Kiara and Leonie Rose compete during Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble at St. Peter’s Church
Wrestlers Gareth Angel and Jimmy Jackson compete during Kingdom Wrestling
Wrestlers Gareth Angel and Jimmy Jackson competing in the church ring.
Wrestlers prepare in a dressing room backstage before the Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble
Wrestlers Kiara and Leonie Rose compete during the Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble
Wrestler William Valor poses for a photographer before his fight in the church.
A male wrestler prepares with colorful face paint in a backstage dressing room.
Wrestlers prepare in a dressing room backstage before the Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble
Wrestlers compete at St Peter’s Church in Shipley
Wrestlers compete during the Kingdom Wrestling Toyal Rumble at St Peter’s Church in Shipley.
His mother was an alcoholic and his father left home when he was younger, was sexually abused as a child and then became homeless, living in a container when he was 15.
He said that one day he was invited by a friend to church, where he said he felt love for the first time.
A few years later he fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional wrestler and sought to combine his faith and passion.
Her fellow wrestlers have been keen to get involved and ‘Posh Princess’ Kiara, 26, has been performing for Kingdom Wrestling for two years.
Kiara, who turned professional after studying natural sciences at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, said the program has helped her reconnect with her Catholic faith.
He said all wrestlers pray in the locker room beforehand, even those who are not religious.