End is nigh for hymn books as churches go hands-free Projection app could save money for cash-strapped churches Decline in sales of traditional hymn books as a result of the trend By Valerie Elliott Hymn books could soon be a thing of the past as churches switch to high-tech services with the words on giant screens, assisted by an iTunes app. The fashion for "hands-free worship" has led to a decline in book sales. But it is said to have improved the singing, as congregants look up at a screen instead of down at the page. Some vicars also prefer screens because they are less likely to spread germs and are said to be environmentally friendly. The Reverend Tim Lomax from Christ Church in Bayston Hill near Shrewsbury, uses a projection screen for his services rather than giving parishioners old fashioned hymn books Experts in the Church of England estimate that about a quarter of its 16,000 parish churches have projectors or large flatscreens. Thomas Allain-Chapman, the Church's publishing manager, said: "There is a growing trend for screens in churches. It's at least 20 per cent and could be a third. It's happening everywhere, even in some traditional rural churches. It's part of the work going on in the Church to make things simpler and to focus on what matters. People don't need to be stuck in the parish office doing endless photocopying. Instead they can get on doing good for the Christian mission. We've also launched a new Sunday Worship app on iTunes so people can look up the relevant readings for a particular day, feast or season. A vicar can get this on his iPad and easily project it onto a screen. Michael Addison, marketing manager for publisher Hymns Ancient & Modern, said: "The use of screens is putting pressure on sales. We sell a hymn book for £7 to £10 - and most churches will order about 200 at a time - whereas our electronic editions cost £40 to £60. It can give a huge saving to churches. The Rev David Green, a vicar in West Malling, Kent, who pioneered the use of technology, said: "Screens get people's heads up, they are singing up and out and not looking down. The volume is noticeably much louder. The 39-year-old previously worked as a digital publisher for the Church and helped devise a £125 software package, Visual Liturgy, to help vicars plan services on computers. Mr Green added: "A lot of clergy are now coming from different professions and if you've been in the world of work, whether it's education, the Army or business, you are used to technology and giving PowerPoint presentations. It feels very natural. Tradition hymn books or orders of service, like the ones seen here used by The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew, could soon be a thing of the past But it's got to be done properly. I have seen very cringe-worthy services where people did not know what they were doing. There are some pitfalls, such as the words being out of sync with the organ. The Rev Tim Lomax, Vicar of Christ Church, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, has installed a screen above his altar. He said: "I like to have a welcome screen when people arrive. We put up hymns and some prayers. But I don't use it for traditional services such as Good Friday or formal communion. You have to learn not to get flustered, though, because sometimes videos or the software crashes and you have to carry on as best you can. Traditionalists, however, are unimpressed. Anthony Kilmister, vice-president of the Prayer Book Society, said: "I'm not in the least keen on it. It's a distraction from the liturgy, but they are probably more used in churches with a lot of free thinking. It's not something I'm used to or would want to be used to.