Major changes in how the Free Church of Scotland conducts its services have been approved by the ruling inner sanctum.
Like other mainstream religions in the U.K. the Free Church has been suffering from rapidly declining membership over recent years.
Currently unaccompanied psalm singing is the only music permitted in public services, but henceforth the singing of hymns and the use of instruments will be permissable.
Its understood that even more revolutionary measures are being proposed - including allowing worshippers to smile up to 5 times within a 90 minute timescale, cross their legs during prayers and finally (and perhaps most controversially) to wear an extra pair of socks when the central heating under the pews breaks down again.
