|PIC1|The initiative has grown year on year since its inception in the Church of England Diocese of Manchester in 2004. The Church of England said it expected around 16,000 churches to take part this year, while other denominations including the Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches said they planned to take part.

Millions of personal invitations went out last week while in parts of the UK a rap-style advertisement went out over the radio. The Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Rev Cyril Ashton, went out with a team of motor cyclists around South Yorkshire to invite people back to church, while in Greater Manchester and Merseyside, a giant 20ft advertisement was driven through the streets of numerous towns.

The message from thousands of churches this year was “come as you are”, as they preached on Jesus’ meeting with the despised tax collector Zacchaeus.

Back to Church Sunday is backed by senior church leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. He said he wanted the nation to know it was loved.

"The Church's responsibility to welcome all comers isn't, of course, restricted to one Sunday in the year,” he said.

“But this Sunday in particular prompts us to do a better job of saying to people that we are truly glad to see newcomers and they always have a right to be part of the family.

“I pray that this year's Back to Church Sunday will assure the whole population of this country that they are loved and valued by God - and by those who worship God."

Research by the Diocese of Lichfield found that six months after Back to Church Sunday in 2007, around 15 per cent of ‘returners’ had become regular members of the church.