Three undercover reporters from the Sentinel Sunday went out to test church services as "mystery worshippers" after an attack from a senior clergyman on the way the Church of England gets its message across.

The investigative exercise has been welcomed by the Bishop of Stafford, the Rt Revd Christopher Hill, who was pleased with the coverage that followed.

Journalists Nick Coligan, Tamzin Hindmarch and Elizabeth Pegg attended three Sunday services in North Staffordshire to find out what was on offer.

Their mission was sparked by comments from the Church of England bishop in charge of worship, the Rt Rev David Stancliffe, who said church services were dire, incompetent and owed more to entertainment than spirituality.

Its restaurant review-style findings were reported on Sunday - and proved very positive, with reporters finding the services accessible and relevant.

Dr Hill said after reading his paper: "All three of the very different churches visited by the Sentinel Sunday team have carefully prepared their Sunday morning worship. They did not know in advance of the reporter's visits.

"The reporters seemed to find a genuinely friendly welcome and some thought-provoking ideas. I am delighted that the team did not find North Staffordshire worship as dire as the Bishop of Salisbury has sometimes found it elsewhere.

"One of the reporters found traditional services did not mean dull, but spoke of a service they attended as accessible and friendly.

"Another spoke similarly of a kind welcome and no pressure, with the vicar being friendly, funny and 'fairly young!' The third said they could not help feeling uplifted and the reporter had remembered the outline of the sermon afterwards.

"I am delighted the reports were so positive. It shows that proper priority has been given to the awesome worship of God whom we see in Jesus and whose spirit is, indeed, alive in our hearts."

Click here to see one of the reviews - from the Church of St James the Great, in Audley.

The reporters rated (with marks out of ten):