The Rt Revd Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, will be guest preacher in the UK's first 3D online church service next week. He will appear as a cartoon double in Church of Fools, conceived by web magazine shipoffools.com.

The project is launched at the 20th National Christian Resources Exhibition (12 noon, Tue 11 May, Sandown Park Exhibition Centre, Esher, Surrey). Rev Jeremy Clines, 35-year-old chaplain of St John's College, York, will also log on as a cartoon double and lead the service - 225 miles away!

'A visible congregation of 20 cartoon characters will be joined by up to 500 "lurkers" at any one time who will move invisibly round the sanctuary and crypt,' said Simon Jenkins, editor of shipoffools.com. 'There will be hymns, prayers, a liturgy and the congregation will be able to walk, sit, kneel and whisper to each other about how good the sermon is - like real church. They'll even be invited to put something in the collection plate - via mobile phone.'

More here: http://www.shipoffools.com/church/