A city centre church is hoping to launch a brand-new wrestling school to help both kids and adults in Bradford.
Fountains Church held a wrestling ‘take over’ weekend to raise funds for the project alongside telling the good news of Jesus’ victory at the cross.
Instead of a lectern, the speaker Gareth ‘Angel’ Thompson delivered his message from a temporary wrestling ring hired for the event, having won a string of battles in front of cheering crowd.
The Revd Linda Maslen, Vicar at Fountains, said: “Wrestling might seem a strange mix for the church, but that is exactly why it worked so well.
“Over a whole weekend, I watched about 90 people, many who would never normally come to church, enjoy hospitality and a lot of fun, while a story was told through wrestling.
“By the time Sunday night arrived, everyone was on the edge of their seats to hear Gareth’s very moving account of how his faith has helped him overcome many battles.
“It was definitely the first time I have seen a wrestler explain the Bible account of David and Goliath and it was fantastic!” 
Bradford man Gareth, 34, travels around the country with his amateur wrestling show GT Ministries and has seen how it can engage people with its message of good triumphing over evil.
He said: “Now I want to bring that to my home city and create a wrestling school as a focus to help people feel part of something positive, learn new skills, get fit and learn more about Jesus’ victory at the cross.
“The Christian faith was a game changer for me, and I want others to know that same power for good.”
Around £2,000 has so far been raised by supporters for a wrestling ring for the school with another £1,000 needing to be found.
Gareth added: “I am really grateful for everyone who has given towards this project and to Linda who believed in me, and plans are in hand now to make this school happen.”
The Ven Andy Jolley, Archdeacon of Bradford, said: "Part of the role of Fountains is to find ways of sharing the good news of Jesus with those with no connection with our churches.
“It was great to see so many people at the recent wrestling weekend held there.
“Lots of them were from backgrounds not normally found in our churches, and Gareth Thompson's story of what God has done in his life really connected.
“Wrestling is a big thing for many people in West Yorkshire, so we hope the Wrestling School and events it can host will help many people to meet with God and discover what Jesus can do in them and through them."
Fountains Church is a new Anglican resource church in Glydegate, next to the Alhambra Theatre, in a building that was once a nightclub called Revolution.
Work to restore the building, which had been derelict for some time, continues as the church congregation grows, with plans to use and rent out its key city centre location.
Find out more about it - or donate to the wrestling school – here.