Since last year, UK church attendance figures have plunged with only 47% of people attending church
when they can on a Sunday.
when they can on a Sunday.
England’s established national church, The Church of England, has been the most impacted by this
decline, with only 15% of the population claiming to be a member of the church - an almost 50%
decrease since the 1990s.
decline, with only 15% of the population claiming to be a member of the church - an almost 50%
decrease since the 1990s.
Reasons for the decline include the wide variety of Sunday trading, less people being brought up by a
church background and a simple disinterest in traditional methods of church.
church background and a simple disinterest in traditional methods of church.
Other polls suggest that people have distanced themselves from religion due to church related scandals
such as the reveal of sex abuse among Catholic churches globally.
such as the reveal of sex abuse among Catholic churches globally.
Congregation Member Elaine Alderdice of Dromore Presbyterian Church in County Down, thinks
the main reason for traditional churches rapidly going out of fashion is due to the lack of emphasis
on young people.
the main reason for traditional churches rapidly going out of fashion is due to the lack of emphasis
on young people.
“My church always been rooted in traditional values but it’s no wonder that churches like this are having
a decline in attendance” says Elaine who has attended Dromore Presbyterian for more than 30 years
a decline in attendance” says Elaine who has attended Dromore Presbyterian for more than 30 years
“Young people struggle to keep up with faith when services lack excitement and a relevance to their modern life.
“It’s entirely possible for churches to embrace modern technology without deviating from biblical
teaching and it’s saddening how far removed the traditional churches has become from the modern world.
teaching and it’s saddening how far removed the traditional churches has become from the modern world.
“There seems to be a fear of making a change and therefore in most cases, the older members of the church
do nothing.” said Elaine.
do nothing.” said Elaine.
Elaine’s Church is just one of the 40,000 churches across the UK who have seen a drop in church attendance.
Benita Hewitt, Director of Christian Research, also believes that the future of church attendance will
continue to decrease in the upcoming years if they don’t attract a younger congregation.
continue to decrease in the upcoming years if they don’t attract a younger congregation.
“Our research shows that if people don’t attend church when they are young, people are not likely to
start coming to church when they are older.” said Ms Hewitt
start coming to church when they are older.” said Ms Hewitt
Ms Hewitt says the Church of England could replicate successful growth strategies that have been used
among other churches which include holding midweek services to cater for changing working habits that
meant people worked more on Sundays.
among other churches which include holding midweek services to cater for changing working habits that
meant people worked more on Sundays.
Elaine Alderdice is now hoping for her church to be more open for change and to adapt like the fresh
expression churches that are known for attracting younger people.
expression churches that are known for attracting younger people.
“I feel like fresh expression churches are offering much needed facilities and opening up the gospel to
people who otherwise would not hear it.
people who otherwise would not hear it.
“Many of them offer much more community based activities and reach out to help and welcome the
vulnerable people in the area as opposed to the stereotypical churches who meet the same people, in the
same place every Sunday,” said Elaine.
vulnerable people in the area as opposed to the stereotypical churches who meet the same people, in the
same place every Sunday,” said Elaine.
“Churches are sometimes so wrapped up in their own rules and principles that their sense of community is
limited and they forget that as Christians they are there to share their love and faith - this desperately has
to change.”
limited and they forget that as Christians they are there to share their love and faith - this desperately has
to change.”
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| Inforgraphic created by me shows statistics of church attendance in the UK |
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