CHURCH attendance on a Sunday always meant an opportunity to giggle at "Auntie" Janie.

She was a lovely person who had served the choir loyally for 50 years. The problem was her ancient, warbling voice.

It always seemed unfair to me that she was allowed to mangle hymns in blissful ignorance while my enthusiastic, youthful contributions prompted people several pews in front to turn round and indicate sternly that it would be far better if I remained quiet. Fear of a repetition of this scarring moment still haunts me and I tend to mumble heroically on the rare occasions I find myself in church.

Random thoughts like this went through my mind when I attended a "Stars in Your Eyes" evening organised as part of a Christian week-end at Christ's Church, Harwood.

I remembered, to my shame, that I only became confirmed in the Church of England so that I could join the youth club.

Somehow, I have always lacked the necessary religious belief, but it does not stop me appreciating the great contribution made by believers.

Thankfully, there were no Auntie Janies on view at the social and it was a very pleasant evening. The organisational skills displayed -- ranging from hi-tech video and sound equipment to a terrific buffet -- were mightily impressive.

Congregations continue to decline, but cynics who never go anywhere near church communities should know that many of them continue to thrive away from the headlines.

There are thousands of people in Bolton who lead better lives because of the good influences which were on offer while they were growing up.

Believing in churches rather more than God is no doubt a strange position, but it more or less makes sense to me.

Anyway, enough of that. . . As a fairly traditional cricket fan, I am in a state of despair after watching television coverage of some of the "Power" nonsense played recently by international stars under the roof of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Some of the top players in the world added more to their bank balances than the spirit of the game when they took part in a "mini-test" in which both teams -- Britain and the Rest of the World -- had two 15-over innings each.

They got an eight for thumping the ball into one section of the stands, 10 for reaching further back and 12 for hitting the roof. It is just a pity that they did not get 16, say, for reaching the commentary box and silencing Nick Knight as he discussed the forthcoming over with wired-up bowler Dominic Cork.

Let us pray/hope, that this system is never extended to the Bolton League and Bradshaw batters do not find themselves getting eight for splashing directly into the brook, 10 for hitting the bowls hut, 12 for disrupting a tennis match and -- depending on the development of bat technology -- 100 for smashing the town hall clock.