Churches in the UK are making more than £20,000 monthly by renting out empty car park spaces to motorists needing somewhere to leave a vehicle.
On average, the nation's places of worship are making £200 a time by hiring out parking spaces, according to research by YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
The study showed more than 100 churches are listed on the portal’s pre-booking parking website, where motorists can find more flexible, and alternative, options to on-street parking and traditional car parks.
However, as there are some 16,000 registered churches this represents only a fraction of the total number who could be making a tidy additional income.
St Wilfrid’s Church in Harrogate spotted an opportunity to offer affordable parking, while attracting people to look around the venue, plus deter anti-social behaviour in the car park by having more people using it.
Many churches listed with YourParkingSpace.co.uk are located near city and town centres, where demand for parking spaces is traditionally high, and can be pre-booked on an hourly or daily basis.
Harrison Woods, managing director at YourParkingSpace.co.uk, said: “Churches offering their empty parking spaces makes perfect financial sense, you could almost describe it as ‘pray and display’.
“However, the extra income is just one benefit as a busy car park deters anti-social behaviour, while visitors could also be tempted to have a look around the church if it is allowed.”
