This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-26117444

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Page Three model projected on Northampton church Model projected on Northampton church picture 'doctored'
(about 4 hours later)
Religious leaders have hit out after an image of a semi-naked glamour model was projected on to the front of a church. A priest who was the victim of a publicity stunt hoax has said he feels "rather used" by a casino and their publicity agency.
Aspers casino put the 30ft image on the tower of All Saints' Church in Northampton on Saturday night to publicise a strip poker event. An image of a semi-naked glamour model projected on to the front of All Saints' Church in Northampton was sent to the media to publicise an event.
A Peterborough Diocese spokesman said the company had "defaced an iconic landmark and a place of religious worship with an inappropriate image". It had been "doctored" on a computer and the casino later apologised.
Aspers said: "We did not mean to cause offence in any way at all." Father David McConkey, priest at All Saints', said: "It was distasteful and I feel rather badly used."
Father David McConkey, priest at All Saints', said he was "startled" when parishioners began contacting him and he was shown a photograph of the Page Three model on his church. He said he had spent all day answering questions from the press and felt it was a waste of time for a busy priest.
"It seems very improper to me," he said. "If this was just a publicity stunt then it was appalling.
'No decency' "It was really nothing to do with me and I was dragged into it. This is not what I came to Northampton to do.
"We want this building to be a sign of God in the community. The company have never contacted me or asked any permission to do this." "It was a misjudgement and a bad taste event."
He added: "I don't want to appear po-faced, but we would not have given permission for this." Making amends
A casino spokesman said the projection "was purely meant in good spirit". The publicity company issued an apology which said: "Naturally we are sorry if anyone was offended by the picture circulated on social media.
It was intended to advertise an "alternative Valentine's strip poker night" at the club. "However, Aspers can assure the Church of England and anyone concerned that no picture was ever projected on to All Saints Church.
The image featured model "Jasmine" who will be appearing at the event, the spokesman added. "The picture is entirely down to computer wizardry."
The diocese spokesman said it was "disappointed that Aspers Casino has sought to use a church building for advertising a commercial event without offering payment and without even having the decency to seek permission first". Managing director of the publicity company that issued the picture, Leigh Strathearn, said the casino did not intend to offend.
All Saints' Church is part of the Parish of All Saints with St Katharine and St Peter in the Church of England. He said he would be meeting with casino bosses because there were a lot of people to make amends to.
It is also Northampton's Civic Church and forms part of the Diocese of Peterborough. "The priest at All Saints' would be first - the number one."