A vicar is using Kanye West lyrics to try and bring more people into church.

Rev Barry Hobson put blackboards outside St Andrew’s Church in Hornchurch, London which he has used to quote well-known songs, along with words from Churchill and even Winnie the Pooh.

Rev Hobson’s quirky tactic of quoting the U.S. rapper replaces the more conventional method of using words from the Bible.

But he said it had received a great reaction from people living nearby, reports the Daily Mail.

“We wanted people to stop and have a bit of fun and a bit of a think about it and for it to then stick in their minds,” he added.

“It has definitely got more people talking about the church as we use quotes from Spongebob to Ghandi.”

The words are written by local volunteer Terry Keens, 63, because Rev Hobson’s handwriting ‘is not neat enough’.

Terry said: ”We have had such a good response to it – I have tried to keep up with the times as if you just have church bible quotes it puts people off.

“I like to get quotes from other people which hold church values like love and peace – so this church has quotes from Kanye West.”

Kanye West may not be the worst choice for inspiration – we reported last month how the rapper is a keen follower of Hollywood pastor Tim Storey.