A crazy golf course in a cathedral has been a hole-in-one success.

Rochester Cathedral's Adventure Golf caused quite the stir when it first opened.

The free, nine hole course was set up in the nave, in a bid to encourage those who may not normally visit the cathedral to take a look.

Despite the initial criticism, the visitor numbers have proven its popularity.

During the last month, more than 29,000 people have picked up a club in the church.

This has had a knock-on effect on general visitor numbers, with an 85% increase since last year.

And people haven't just been coming to play crazy golf, there has also been more engagement with spiritual elements of the church.

Candle lighting has seen a 60% increase, for example.

Rev Nathan Ward said: "The response to the crazy golf has been amazing.

"It was designed to engage local people, especially families, and welcome them into their community space."

As Rev Ward puts it, it has been "the summer of cathedrals", with religious buildings up and down the country thinking up weird and wonderful ways to encourage more visitors.

He added: "The people who critised the event probably didn't attend to experience it themselves. When any organisation does something new, some people find it uncomfortable which is sad. But actually, the response has been overwhelmingly positive."

Rochester Cathedral has a long history of opening up the nave for community events, dating back hundreds of years, and is not stopping here.

The cathedral is now working hard to develop a wide range of future programmes to encourage even more people to come along.

Tomorrow, the Knife Angel, a 27-foot blade sculpture, will replace the golf course.

It is made of knives surrendered to police, and is travelling around the country.

Check out the other Kent churches offering something out of the ordinary

Read more: All the latest news from Medway