For the past 50 years, Christ Church in Melplash, south-west Dorset, has hosted a unique feature: a badminton court inside its nave. The church, which is thought to be the only one in the country with such a facility, established the court in the 1970s after a decline in its congregation.
Treasurer Peter Jones told the BBC that the vicar at the time made the decision to remove the pews, mark out a court, and set up a net. “It’s been going on ever since,” he said, reflecting on how the church adapted to changing circumstances.
The court is used during weekday evenings but not on Sunday mornings when church services are held, allowing it to serve the local community in a way that revitalises the church’s role.
“The church doesn’t advertise badminton, but it’s very much a church in every other way,” Jones said. “It’s our hidden secret inside.”
Rev Canon David Baldwin, team rector for Beaminster, was amazed by the ingenuity of the church's founders. “I’ve never had a church with a badminton court before. I am amazed that, 50 years ago, people were able to make it happen. We are delighted that it’s here today,” he said. Though Baldwin enjoys the sport, his knee no longer allows him to play.
Badminton England’s Beccy Lewis, whose role is to grow the sport in non-traditional spaces, praised the church's badminton court. “How lovely to play badminton in such a lovely, open and fresh facility somewhere unique,” she said. “Sports halls can be a little bit intimidating at times, so it’s really great to see that badminton can be played anywhere.”