Passing the sniff test assumes that the increase in young people attendance recorded applies across the board of C of E churches and other denominations. History shows that revivals tend to happen outside of traditional C of E churches, so it would be somewhat surprising if lots of young people were suddenly drawn to traditional C of E daily prayer services. But New Wine and HTB C of E churches after decades of renewal appear to be more ‘revival ready’ than has historically been the case and it seems more likely that these churches along with Pentecostal churches will be… Read more »
Pam Wilkinson
1 hour ago
Reading about the future of theology made me wonder what the justification (in academic terms) is for not treating theology as a specialist branch of philosophy?
Froghole
1 hour ago
The Church Mouse is surely correct, as usual. When it comes to Professor Voas, the Church does seem to want to have its cake and eat it. Voas and Watt are cited regularly and opportunistically by those within the Church wanting to press for more stipendiaries, but when Voas decides to critique surveys which were probably designed to boost the self-esteem of the churches, the response from the ecclesiastical authorities has either been tumbleweed, or has been curt and defensive. What a surprise! In my experience only a tiny number of Anglican churches have a critical mass of young people,… Read more »
The decline of theology at the undergraduate level is of little surprise. It emerged as a separate subject in the third quarter of the 19th century as part of the wider shift towards professional qualifications, including for the clergy. This coincided with the de facto ‘disestablishment’ of the Church in the universities: the two phenomena being not entirely unrelated. For a while theology faculties constituted a clerical kraal within overwhelmingly secular universities, but this redoubt could only be defended for so long. In recent decades it has perforce become a much more diverse subject in order to maintain demand (and,… Read more »
Passing the sniff test assumes that the increase in young people attendance recorded applies across the board of C of E churches and other denominations. History shows that revivals tend to happen outside of traditional C of E churches, so it would be somewhat surprising if lots of young people were suddenly drawn to traditional C of E daily prayer services. But New Wine and HTB C of E churches after decades of renewal appear to be more ‘revival ready’ than has historically been the case and it seems more likely that these churches along with Pentecostal churches will be… Read more »
Reading about the future of theology made me wonder what the justification (in academic terms) is for not treating theology as a specialist branch of philosophy?
The Church Mouse is surely correct, as usual. When it comes to Professor Voas, the Church does seem to want to have its cake and eat it. Voas and Watt are cited regularly and opportunistically by those within the Church wanting to press for more stipendiaries, but when Voas decides to critique surveys which were probably designed to boost the self-esteem of the churches, the response from the ecclesiastical authorities has either been tumbleweed, or has been curt and defensive. What a surprise! In my experience only a tiny number of Anglican churches have a critical mass of young people,… Read more »
Talking of data breaches, there’s been an absolutely massive one that will affect enormous numbers of PCC members and other church workers. Anyone whose diocese has used APCS for its DBS checking. The Church Times says “hundreds” could be affected, but I’d think it more likely to be thousands of us. Name, address, DoB, passport, driving licence and NI numbers all potentially compromised. https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/29-august/news/uk/cyber-attack-leaves-hundreds-of-parishioners-at-risk-of-identity-theft
The decline of theology at the undergraduate level is of little surprise. It emerged as a separate subject in the third quarter of the 19th century as part of the wider shift towards professional qualifications, including for the clergy. This coincided with the de facto ‘disestablishment’ of the Church in the universities: the two phenomena being not entirely unrelated. For a while theology faculties constituted a clerical kraal within overwhelmingly secular universities, but this redoubt could only be defended for so long. In recent decades it has perforce become a much more diverse subject in order to maintain demand (and,… Read more »