Church attendance in England falls by 1.11 million as churches expand food banks and cafés

The latest survey reports that the number of people who attend the English Church monthly or on multiple occasions fell by 1.11 million (1%) last year. The average number attending a weekly worship service declined by 2.1%, from 854,000 in October of the previous year over the one-year period.

The survey also found that the number of people attending festivals rose, and that attendance at services for occasions such as Christmas and Easter was increasing.

According to the English Church, some people who attended its national network had little or no access to local churches. The church said its website had more than 7 million people enrolled and that daily prayers were available online.

The report also noted an increase in the number of places in the community where work during the epidemic was observed, and a significant rise in the number of trainers. More than 4,200 pastoral workers or local church leaders had attended the English Academy, four times the number in 2019.

According to the church’s latest proclamation, local churches increased their food bank work by nearly 60% to help poor families during the epidemic. Approximately 2,700 churches and communities opened cafés, and 2,300 breakfast restaurants were run, a picture of welcoming those in need (Matthew 25:35).

Archbishop Stephen Cottrell said, “There are thousands of outsiders who have never been in touch with the local English Church, and who may never have heard Christian messages.”

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)