Its plans to recruit new converts have been described by some as “Stalinist” and a “Great Leap Forward”. This, one vicar wrote, is a Christianity that is “randy for converts”
Now the church is displaying evangelising glints that are, for many, alarming. A briefing paper on “Vision and Strategy”, delivered in July at its general synod, called for a church that is “younger and more diverse”—and much bigger. It aims to develop 3,000 “worshipping hubs” for children and young people, and has linked with a movement called “Myriad” , which aims to create 10,000 new churches and a million new worshippers in Britain within a decade.
The response has been bitter. Both the church and Myriad later apologised for the “limiting factors” comment, but the damage was done. The plans have been described as “Stalinist” and a “Great Leap Forward”. This, one vicar wrote, is a Christianity that is “randy for converts”. A Save the Parish group has been formed. Diarmaid MacCulloch, an emeritus professor of ecclesiastical history at Oxford University, sees in the scheme a certain “adolescent self-confidence”. Many are very angry.
Yet aesthetic appeal is not enough to put bums on seats. Turville in Buckinghamshire is a perfect English village. The road to it is rolling; its mists are mellow; its trees fruitful. Its church, St Mary’s , is so perfect that for years it was used to film “The Vicar of Dibley”, aseries. And yet on a Sunday morning in early autumn, this perfect church is perfectly empty.
Church attendance in England has been falling for decades. In 1970, according to the church’s own figures, 1.5m went to a service every Sunday. In 2010 only 800,000 did. And attendance is still falling. The “key measures of attendance” fell by 15-20% between 2009 and 2019. Those who do attend are ageing.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Last Time We Worshipped in the Church of the Nightly NewsAnchormen kept us sane in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and rarely since.
Read more »
Afghanistan war veteran gets emotional recalling 9/11: ‘America is damn lucky’ for heroic service membersArmy veteran Sergeant Mike Doody joined 'America Reports' to discuss his time in Afghanistan, the Biden withdrawal and how 9/11 impacted the United States.
Read more »
Can you overfeed a baby?Parents often worry whether their newborn is getting enough milk, but can you actually overfeed them? Here's what you need to know.
Read more »
Charles Gets Emotional Remembering Prince Philip in New TrailerPrince Philip The Royal Family Remembers, a BBC documentary, features interviews with Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Prince William but not Megan Markle.
Read more »
What you need to know about President Joe Biden's new Covid vaccine mandatesPresident Joe Biden's new vaccine mandates are his most aggressive effort yet to get the raging Covid pandemic under control. Here's what you need to know.
Read more »
Process server attempts to serve Prince Andrew at Royal Lodge with legal papers for sexual abuse lawsuit filed by Virginia GiuffreA process server for Virginia Roberts Giuffre's legal team attempted service on UK's Prince Andrew by delivering legal documents to The Royal Lodge in Windsor, England, according to New York court documents.
Read more »