Worshippers at a medieval cathedral are being asked to putt their faith in God on a crazy golf course in the nave.

Visitors to 900-year-old Rochester Cathedral, in Kent, will be greeted by the nine-hole course this summer – despite protests that it will not befit the sanctity of the venerable building.

It is the latest in a series of Church initiatives at cathedrals, which also include a 40ft helter-skelter in Norwich and a gin and prosecco festival at Peterborough.

Visitors to 900-year-old Rochester Cathedral, in Kent, will be greeted by the nine-hole course this summer – despite protests that it will not befit the sanctity of the venerable building

Anglican leaders hope they will appeal to younger people and help congregation numbers, which have plummeted by up to 20 per cent in the past decade.

But Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, a former prelate at Rochester, said: ‘Crazy golf, helter-skelters and gin festivals are not in keeping with the sanctity of these wonderful places of worship. These are places where people come to pray to God and you have to ask whether these events are befitting of this.’

The indoor golf course at Rochester will open in August. It is being paid for by the Rochester Bridge Trust, a local charity.

Simon Lace, chapter clerk at Rochester, said: ‘We are trying to draw in new visitors and raise our profile. It is a short-term opportunity to enjoy a wonderful building in a new way.’

The plans have been met with a mixed reaction locally.

One priest said: ‘It does smack of dumbing down a bit, but that seems to be what we are going for now.’

It is the latest in a series of Church initiatives at cathedrals, which also include a 40ft helter-skelter in Norwich and a gin and prosecco festival at Peterborough. Stock picture

Father James Mather, a priest in Norfolk, wrote on Twitter: ‘I imagine some small part of this venerable sacred building will be reserved for anyone who might wish to, er, say their prayers.’

Senior clerics across the country appear to have been emboldened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who said last year: ‘If you can’t have fun in a cathedral, do you really know what fun is?’

Justin Welby made the comment after Sue Jones, the Dean of Liverpool, was criticised for organising a Halloween service during which one of the canons was wheeled into the cathedral in a coffin.

A C of E spokesman said: ‘We are very supportive of innovative ways to make buildings accessible to a new audience.

They are open seven days a week and alongside regular worship have the size and draw to host large-scale events.’