Church to hold Doctor Who service and unveil Tardis

A church is holding a Doctor Who-themed Sunday Service and officially unveiling a Tardis which it acquired.

The replica box from the BBC science fiction series had been sitting by a farmer's field near Ipswich for some years before it was moved to a new home at the Zion Baptist Church in Cambridge.

Reverend Jason de-Vaux, a fan of the series, said the Tardis would sit in the church's courtyard and would be officially unveiled on Sunday.

He said the show had similar themes of regeneration seen in the Christian Bible, adding: "Jesus Christ himself was regenerated in the way he came alive again and in which way he saved mankind. Doctor Who saves mankind."

The Tardis was offered for free if de-Vaux could renovate it.

A transport firm - which was equally keen on the sci-fi genre - offered to transport it at no cost to the church.

De-Vaux said the reaction to the church getting the Tardis had been "phenomenal" and had gained attention internationally.

"I believe it's going to draw people to come to the church, not just because of their faith, which is obviously an awesome thing as we're a church, but for people to come and see something which is epic," he added.

The event is expected to have special appearances from Daleks, Cybermen, and Weeping Angels.

Peter Purves, who played the companion to the first Doctor, will officially unveil the box.

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