Scores of youngsters with hoodies and skateboards invaded a 12th-century Benedictine abbey… and the vicar was absolutely delighted.

They came because, for the first time in Britain, a skate park complete with quarter-pipes, grinding boards, ramps and jumps was set up inside a church.

The innovative use of the abbey during the half-term holiday has raised a few eyebrows, but the teenagers of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, whose local council has failed to provide a permanent skate park despite 15 years of being asked to do so, said they loved every minute of it.

The abbey resounded to the noise of crashing boards and high-energy punk rock yesterday as youngsters came from all over Wiltshire to practise their tricks feet from the tomb of King Athelstan, the first king of all England.

Normally, the abbey is a peaceful place with only the regular religious services and a daily influx of tourists to disturb it.

But this week the rows of chairs have been moved to one side and the Christian Skaters UK group has installed a full skate park in the nave. Church leaders gave the go-ahead on the proviso that none of the scheduled ancient monument got damaged, so construction firm ROK volunteered to lay a thick wooden floor to protect the ancient stone, more boards shield the medieval font and Victorian pulpit, while a farmer donated straw bales to protect the Norman stone pillars.

Malmesbury's vicar, the Rev Neill Archer, said the whole event, which ends tonight when the abbey will be returned to normal, was designed to show young people they were welcome in the abbey.

"We see the young people walk past the abbey every day and they probably think it doesn't have relevance to them, that it doesn't belong to them, that it's for the older people and the tourists," he said.

"And then they believe the Christian faith doesn't belong to them, so on a number of levels we're saying 'you're welcome here, your culture is welcome here.'

"I respect that people might resent this because it's a beautiful abbey and I understand that some people would draw the line somewhere else.

"We are trying something that is on the edge in order to connect with young people," he added.

"I've also heard people say we're just trying to brainwash teenagers. You can't brainwash teenagers. I've got teenage children and I can't even get them to tidy their bedrooms."

Youngsters Toby Owen and Jack Woodhead, both 12, would not normally go to church. They said during school holidays they would otherwise be skating on the streets or at skate parks in towns 20 miles away.

"Those people outside who are complaining about this are generally the people who also complain about us skateboarding on the streets," said Jack. "It's getting youngsters off the streets.

"It's not just their abbey, it's ours as well. It's a good idea," added Toby. "We have to have some place to go. As a skate park it's actually pretty good, better than I thought it would be because of all the valuable old stuff there is in here."

Pensioner Stephen Earl happened to be visiting the abbey on holiday with his wife from Cambridge on the first day of the skate park. He said he arrived expecting to enjoy the serenity of the former Benedictine Abbey, and appreciate the architecture of its Norman builders, but discovered a huge skate park between the font and the altar.

"I think it's fantastic," he said. "What a brilliant use of the church during half-term. I'm sure there'll be a few raised eyebrows, but here's a church on a Thursday in February that is full of people – and young people too." Hayley Keyzar brought her son David, nine, to the event from Holt, a village 20 miles away. She said: "I think it's great, it's just very positive for the young people to perhaps see that church isn't just somewhere they would be bored for an hour on a Sunday."

Phil Pechonis, from Christian Skaters UK, said his group had set up skate parks outside churches before, including Exeter Cathedral, but never inside one. "It's unusual, even for us. God uses Christian Skaters as a bridge between the young people and the church. We let them know that God loves them too."

The volunteers have also set up a stage for live music by girlband Collective, a cafe and singing workshops.