Terence EdenDec 25, 2022

🆕 blog! “So, this is Christmas?”

The Church of England publishes statistics about the numbers of its faithful. These are particularly interesting in light of the recent news that the UK no-longer has a Christian majority. The CofE's statistics are for 2019 - before COVID messed up everything - and I think offer a fascinating glimpse into its future. The two […]

👀 Read more: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2022/12/so-this-is-christmas/
⸻
#religion #xmas

So, this is Christmas?

The Church of England publishes statistics about the numbers of its faithful. These are particularly interesting in light of the recent news that the UK no-longer has a Christian majority. The CofE's statistics are for 2019 - before COVID messed up everything - and I think offer a fascinating glimpse into its future. The two figures which struck me were: 89,000 baptisms during 2019 114,000 funerals during 2019 Back in 2014, the numbers were: 130,000 baptisms 146,000 funerals The good…

Terence Eden’s Blog
Show threadTerence EdenNov 29, 2023

The Church of England have released another set of statistics.

https://www.churchofengland.org/about/data-services/key-areas-research#church-attendance-statistics

Key figures:
👶 Baptisms: 81,800
⚰️ Funerals: 103,500
⛪ Worshipping Community: 984,400

Baptisms were slightly higher than projected due to older children being held over during lockdown.

But that's still a "deficit" of 21k worshippers every year.

However, the "Worshipping Community" has declined by 128k in 3 years. An average of 42k per year.

Key areas of research | The Church of England

Key areas of the work of the Data Services unit

The Church of England
Show threadTerence EdenNov 29, 2023

Obviously there's probably a lower limit on Church of England membership.

But if the trends of the last few decades continue, it simply won't exist in the next 20-40 years.

Show threadAndy WoottonNov 29, 2023
@Edent I don't think God will mind.
Show threadAndy WoottonNov 29, 2023
@Edent Church architecture is an important artifact of historical British culture though. Protection will need to be paid for, with no congregations to collect for new rooves.
Show threadAlaric Snell-PymNov 30, 2023
@woo @Edent they have some lovely buildings. I'm an ideal world they would become community centres with social / performance spaces and libraries, but I very much doubt that will happen in anything like the current political climate.
Show threadTerence EdenNov 30, 2023
@kitten_tech @woo
I didn't often say this - but get off the Internet and engage with what's actually happening. Nearly every church is available to hire for performances, meetings, community clubs, yoga, etc.
Show threadAlaric Snell-Pym
@Edent @woo eh? I was replying to a toot saying the buildings should be preserved if the CoE collapses, by suggesting a role they could fulfill, but bemoaning the worry that nobody would pay for that to happen. Not commenting on their CURRENT use! I live opposite a church so see its day to day usage :-)
Nov 30, 2023 at 12:41pmWeb
Show threadAndy WoottonNov 30, 2023
@kitten_tech @Edent I agree. My kids were tricked into attending the local happy-clappy CofE school by a drama group. That's in a modern building next to The Community Centre, so one could be closed to reduce costs. The other 2 (C of E and Methodist) are Victorian and freezing. There's another Methodist chapel I've never seen open.