Churches find the Holy Grail of tourism

London: Christians may condemn The Da Vinci Code as historical rubbish but for churches that starred in the film, it is the Holy Grail of tourism.

The religious sites that acted as backdrops for the movie are enjoying an influx of curious pilgrims.

"I suspect that we will have a very significant surge in visitor numbers for the next three or four weeks," said the Reverend Robin Griffith-Jones, master of the Temple Church in London that appears in the Dan Brown bestseller.

He had no regrets about allowing the crew to film at the beautiful sandstone church built by the Knights Templar.

The fee enabled him to keep the 12th century church open seven days a week to welcome those pursuing the Gospel According to Brown.

Winchester and Lincoln Cathedrals, both used in the movie, have staged tours and exhibitions while Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, another crucial film setting, expects up to 140,000 visitors this year.