The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) has announced a new streaming platform will be launched on 6th December in an effort to raise funds for the maintenance of historic churches in the UK. 

CCTdigital will offer films and other content about churches, especially addressing the neglect of Christian sites. The first production will be "a church crawling" series inspired by former Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman. Betjeman's BBC series, 'Passion for Churches', followed the poet's tour of places of worship in Norfolk. 

But 'Churchcrawls in Solitude' will not only explore the story behind places of worship in Norfolk but also in Suffolk, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. The series will be presented by Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch. 

Over the course of this five-part series, viewers will be exploring the architecture, history, and beauty of the buildings with Professor MacCulloch reflecting on "a historian's life, measured out in churches." 

Professor MacCulloch said: "Churches are places that I love and have played an important role in my seven decades of life. Indeed, they've played important parts in the lives of countless generations and so it's sad to see many in this country facing an uncertain future. It's why partnering with CCT to make this series has been great, and hugely encouraging. 

"My hope is that people will love the series we've produced together, so much so in fact, that they'll want to join CCT and help them protect more churches and watch great films in the process."

Peter Aiers, chief executive of CCT, told The Daily Telegraph: "If Sir John Betjeman would have made the TV programme 'A Passion for Churches' today, we hope that he would have allowed us to stream it on CCTdigital.

"I think this Netflix-style platform is something he would have loved."