What is this? Since ancient times (ok, 1998), Ship of Fools has been sending Mystery Worshippers to churches worldwide. Travelling incognito, they ask those questions which go to the heart of church life: How long was the sermon? How hard the pew? How cold was the coffee? How warm the welcome? The only clue they have been there at all is the Mystery Worshipper calling card, dropped discreetly into the collection plate. If you would like to become a Mystery Worshipper, start here. See our archive of reports Famous/infamous UK & Ireland USA Oz & NZ Canada Elsewhere     The mystery pilgrim Augustine the Aleut, one of our Mystery Worshippers, encounters hugging Koreans, baroque heaven and a devil in a backpack on the Camino, the medieval pilgrimage road across northern Spain. Read his reports from eight churches en route. > Comforting grandma in Santa Maria, Igualada, Catalonia > In a stolen synagogue, Mare de Déu, Balaguer, Catalonia > Gossip is silenced in San Lorenzo, Huesca, Aragón > Friendly parishioners in Catedral de San Pedro, Jaca, Aragón > Plied with paella and wine at San Miguel, Estella, Navarre > Music, delight and sorrow in Santa María, Viana, Navarre > Harmonica worship in Carrión de los Condes, Castile > The devil cast out of Iglesia de Santiago, Triacastela, Lugo Latest reports > Joyful handbells at St George's, Laguna Hills, CA, USA > Midnight communion in St Andrew's, Congresbury, UK > Distracted by the sermon in Grace, Old Saybrook, CT, USA > Polite and formal: Mariners' Church, Detroit, USA > Where's Jesus? St Matthew's Cathedral, Washington DC > The acolytes chewed gum: St John's, Sharon, PA, USA > Hot hymn sandwich at Barnehurst Methodist, Kent, UK > A gleeful sprinkling at St Mary's, Oxenhope, Yorks, UK > Hearty carols (and chilblains) at Deal Bandstand, UK > A cool welcome to Hoole Baptist, Hoole, UK > Muppet Show comments at Unity, Eau Claire, WI, USA > Pounced on at Barnabas Community, Shrewbury, UK > The singing pastor in Mountain View, Upland, CA, USA > Cunning seating plan in St Matthew's, Bristol, UK > A full church, full of smiles: St Joseph's, Oakham, UK > The Christmas Pageant in St Francis, Fair Oaks, CA, USA > John Wesley preaches again at Gwennap Pit, Cornwall, UK > Asked to move at Wave Church, Virginia Beach, VA, USA > A full house at St Peter & St Paul, Uppingham, UK > The cardinal at home in Los Angeles Cathedral, CA, USA Special reports > At the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London > Installing the 11th Archbishop of Westminster, UK > Funeral Service for Mormon President, Salt Lake City > Shrill music, friendly people at St Pixels Internet church > Ted Haggard's church before and after the Big Bang > Honoring the martyrs in Lowndes County Courthouse, AL > Rev. Billy rises after attack by Mickey Mouse in NYC > Mystery Worshipper visits the world's smallest church > Mystery Worshipper Sunday: 70 London churches visited Comments, corrections and removals For the latest comments on and corrections to Mystery Worshipper reports, please go here. Reports over two years old can be removed at the request of the church reviewed. Please email here for further details.     We rely on voluntary donations to stay online. If you're a regular visitor to Ship of Fools, please consider supporting us. The Mystery Pilgrim One of our most seasoned reporters, Augustine the Aleut, travels 1200 kilometres on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and reports from the churches he visited along the ancient route. Read here. London churches Read reports from 70 London churches, visited by a small army of Mystery Worshippers on one single Sunday. Read here.