COMPETITIVE tea drinking has been taken to a new level, thanks to a vicar from Box who is aiming to drink 100 cups of tea in just 13 weeks.

Reverend Janet Anderson-MacKenzie first started her tea-drinking mission four years ago when she drank 100 sponsored cups of tea in different places in Colerne to help raise money for new facilities for her parish’s two churches.

Now, the former Biochemist turned vicar for the Box, Ditteridge and Colerne area, will be drinking the same amount of tea in just 93 days to ponder the statement 'Christianity in the UK is not dying but sleeping' for a 20 minute podcast.

"I am good at drinking tea but it is a challenge against myself," Rev Dr Anderson-Mackenzie said. "I have 93 days to drink 100 cups of tea, with a two week holiday thrown in the mix, so it's not easy.

"While I am drinking though, I will be talking to someone about people's response to Christianity in the UK.

"I took inspiration from an article in the Telegraph which considered the statement and I think it it quite contradictory.

"Less people are coming to church on a Sunday but more people are coming at other times, especially for Christmas services in this area - but although that's not really death, it's not really life either."

So far, the 47-year-old has recorded seven podcasts, including one with Radio 4s Robin Ince, which she hopes others will listen to while drinking their cuppas.

"It gives me a good opportunity to speak to people with different beliefs," she added. "Some of the podcast is about personal middle life challenges, but others bits are talking to people about this statement and their beliefs.

"I'm not sure it will inspire people to come to church, but it will help me - and others - to understand people's responses to religion."

To listen to the podcasts visit www.100cupsofteagoeslarge.com.