If you imagine you can hear your local church pounding to the pop beat of the Eurythmics, you might be having more than just sweet dreams.

The group's star and co-founder Dave Stewart has joined forces with the Churches Conservation Trust in a partnership to take pop music to the church in time.

Church Keys was launched at All Saints' Church at Langport, near Glastonbury.

Stewart was joined by Chris Difford of the new wave band Squeeze, Nik Kershaw, and the Lake Poets. They played hits such as "There Must Be an Angel", "Cool for Cats", and "Wouldn't it be good".

The aim is to combine the old pop favourites with new music from emerging talent at the heart of some of the nation's neo-Gothic and Gothic architecture and the soaring elegance of countless Grade One listed churches..

Church Keys begins soon with a tour by The Lake Poets, with Sunderland's multi-instrumentalist, Martin Longstaff, an award-winning singer-songwriter.

In his first church concept event in 1983, Stewart and co-star Annie Lennox bought and restored a derelict church in London's Crouch End and turned it into a recording studio now owned by producer Paul Epworth, who has worked with stars such as Adele.

Epworth said: "I am thrilled to have partnered with the Churches Conservation Trust and together share a focussed vision on how to breathe life back into these beautiful buildings and turn them into a new kind of community centre."

Sponsors of the first tour include Fuller's Brewery and Raymond Weil.

Epworth added: "I can't think of a better way to bring the community together to celebrate these historic churches than with music. Artists have been transforming neighbourhoods and cities for centuries - just look at Notting Hill or downtown New York City. The Lake Poets are one of the most exciting new talents emerging from Britain right now, and Marty's origins with Sunderland make this a really meaningful association for myself."

Lloyd Grossman, chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust, said: "The phrase 'A Capella' literally means 'in the chapel' and music has always been one of the most important forms of participation; these beautiful churches are custom designed and tested over centuries to produce music. The introduction of these musical acts is the most wonderful way of putting new wine in some very old and beautiful bottles."

Church Keys is working with The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation whose mission is to extend musical education, including songwriting, production, arranging, orchestration, and performance, to new generations regardless of income or ethnicity or learning levels. The next gig is in York on Sunday.