City says yes to Britain's new minster

The first minster to be created in Britain since the Reformation 400 years ago will undoubtedly be the most modern. The Church of St Michael's in Sunderland, which yesterday became the Minster Church of St Michael's and All Angels, will have a cyber cafe for worshippers seeking inspiration from the Internet.

The Bishop of Durham, Michael Turnbull, who carried out the ceremony, said: "Historically minsters and cathedrals grew from monastic churches. Sunderland is part of the Diocese of Durham which already has a cathedral and so we saw the creation of Sunderland Minster as the logical step forward. My idea for the new minster stemmed from the feeling that the church needs to be affirming Sunderland in its identity: its civic, business, cultural and sporting life."

Plans to create the new minster began five years ago when Sunderland gained city status.