This is Plymouth --ATHEISTS could get their own church in Plymouth.
The city's branch of the Humanist Association says the "provocative" Sunday gatherings would help non-believers build their own sense of community.
The atheist church would have a congregation, singing and people talking about their beliefs – everything but religion. The move follows the creation of the Sunday Assembly, set up in a de-consecrated church in London earlier this year.
"Some religious people might feel threatened by this," said Ben Kerr, chair of Plymouth Humanists.
"It is provocative, but that is not the intention. Some atheists might think it is crazy, too.
"But groups of people getting together to sing songs and listen to other people talk – that has been around a lot longer than modern religion."
Comedian Sanderson Jones, a co-founder of the Sunday Assembly, will be in Plymouth on Tuesday to talk about the project.
Mr Kerr said: "Some might think we are aping religion, or taking the mickey with having an atheist church on a Sunday.
"That's not the idea. Sunday is the day of the week when people do not have other stuff to do.
"Sundays are family days, a time to get together. That's built into our culture.
"Building a sense of community, of belonging is important. I know a couple of atheists who go to a (Christian) church because it speaks to that kind of need, even though they don't believe in God.
"Just under 33 per cent of the people of Plymouth stated they were of no belief in the last census," he added. The values and needs of this section of the community are often sidelined but the larger, religiously-inclined majority."
Twenty cities around the world have followed London's lead in setting up atheist churches.
"Plymouth could be on the leading edge of this movement," said Mr Kerr.
Plymouth Humanists have a mailing list of 250 and their meetings attract 20-120 people.
Mr Jones' visit comes as the Sunday Assembly plans a 40 Dates and 40 Nights tour, part of a campaign to raise funds for the movement and spread the reach across the UK, Europe, United States and Australia.
The meeting with Mr Jones is in Henry J's bar, Mayflower Street at 7.30pm. Reported by This is 1 hour ago.