Witch ‘bigger than C of E’

A WITCH has so many devotees on social media she is outdoing the Church of England.

Harmony Nice boasts more than one million followers on YouTube and Instagram combined, compared to the church’s 335,000.

The 22-year-old’s spell tutorials are so popular she is “earning a good wage” and has published a guide book on witchcraft.

She describes herself as Wiccan, a modern form of the Pagan religion that developed in the mid-20th century.

Harmony, inset, said: “Some people see Christianity as outdated.

“Wicca is an open religion that teaches kindness, to look after the natural world – a bit like Buddhism.

“I knew you could be a full-time vicar but I was really surprised that I could earn a good wage as a full-time Wiccan.”

She started her YouTube channel in 2013 for fashion and beauty videos but soon found viewers were interested in her Wiccan faith.

Harmony, from Norfolk, was inspired by her great-grandmother Hilda, also a witch, who died before she was born. She added: “I think it’s quite a peaceful, mindful way to live, looking to the seasons to guide you in your life.

“As a Wiccan, you can be declared as a witch, but lots of people prefer to be called a Wiccan.” Historian Dr Ronald Hutton, from Bristol University, estimates there could be as many as 250,000 pagans in England and Wales.

He attributes the numbers to “the church of YouTube” that has allowed a virtual community to come together.