Since the pandemic I have been touring 12 dioceses (two of which are in Wales) in detail, as well as attending services in a number of others. To paraphrase David Voas, my own personal ‘anecdote’ across thousands of churches might now constitute a species of [admittedly flawed] ‘evidence’. Based on what I have seen, there are a few instances of intensive growth (some of which may amount, in part, to the cannibalisation of other churches), but practically everywhere else the pattern appears to be one of remorseless decline up to the point of extinction. The youngest members of the ‘last… Read more »
Peter Misiaszek
1 day ago
Ian Paul makes some interesting observations about growth. I wonder if the C of E stats office dug a little deeper into the numbers, would they find that their trends mirror that of the Diocese of Toronto. We too have experienced atypical growth in the number of Average Sunday Attendees and the number of Identifiable Givers. The variables mutually corroborate one another. When we noticed the significant uptick in 2023 I was careful not to be too ecstatic. After all, it could simply be an anomaly. But now that our 2024 numbers are in, the trend indicates a continued rise… Read more »
Loxley Nixon
20 hours ago
“Shades of Grey”…..nice to see my dominating influence showing itself. Lol.
Kyle Johansen
12 hours ago
Sharon seems to be engaging in utter hypocrisy. It is she who is seeking to hollow out the word “equal” to mean “the same”. If I have two children and I help one to be become a high-ranking doctor and the other to become a QC then I have help them “YYY”. What word can we use for YYY when we get rid of the word “equal”, in order to have it mean “the same”. We already have a term for “the same”. It’s “the same”. If you think that women should be able to fill “the same” roles as… Read more »
FearandTremolo
12 hours ago
I always love Ian Paul’s pieces, they’re so well thought through and considered. I’m sure there is data on this, but I’d be fascinated to see some demographic and regional data on the growth and decline. Where we are in South London, we’ve got an enthusiastic new priest a few years ago, and have now been able to set up a ‘young couples’ group. It’s early days and it’s a bit rough and ready, but there is some evidence here of the quiet revival. The reason I’m curious about this more granular data is that I wonder if the collapse… Read more »
Since the pandemic I have been touring 12 dioceses (two of which are in Wales) in detail, as well as attending services in a number of others. To paraphrase David Voas, my own personal ‘anecdote’ across thousands of churches might now constitute a species of [admittedly flawed] ‘evidence’. Based on what I have seen, there are a few instances of intensive growth (some of which may amount, in part, to the cannibalisation of other churches), but practically everywhere else the pattern appears to be one of remorseless decline up to the point of extinction. The youngest members of the ‘last… Read more »
Ian Paul makes some interesting observations about growth. I wonder if the C of E stats office dug a little deeper into the numbers, would they find that their trends mirror that of the Diocese of Toronto. We too have experienced atypical growth in the number of Average Sunday Attendees and the number of Identifiable Givers. The variables mutually corroborate one another. When we noticed the significant uptick in 2023 I was careful not to be too ecstatic. After all, it could simply be an anomaly. But now that our 2024 numbers are in, the trend indicates a continued rise… Read more »
“Shades of Grey”…..nice to see my dominating influence showing itself. Lol.
Sharon seems to be engaging in utter hypocrisy. It is she who is seeking to hollow out the word “equal” to mean “the same”. If I have two children and I help one to be become a high-ranking doctor and the other to become a QC then I have help them “YYY”. What word can we use for YYY when we get rid of the word “equal”, in order to have it mean “the same”. We already have a term for “the same”. It’s “the same”. If you think that women should be able to fill “the same” roles as… Read more »
I always love Ian Paul’s pieces, they’re so well thought through and considered. I’m sure there is data on this, but I’d be fascinated to see some demographic and regional data on the growth and decline. Where we are in South London, we’ve got an enthusiastic new priest a few years ago, and have now been able to set up a ‘young couples’ group. It’s early days and it’s a bit rough and ready, but there is some evidence here of the quiet revival. The reason I’m curious about this more granular data is that I wonder if the collapse… Read more »