dwindling congregations c of e

Our local Catholic churches and Methodist chapels seem to be thriving, but our C of E church has undergone a lot of sea changes depending on the vicars, and I’m not sure how it’s doing at the moment. It did really well under a “high church” vicar who introduced incense and more traditional rituals, bells and smells, as Esmay put it. Now it’s all modern hymns and pared back services, and Sunday attendance is way down. However, the Sunday School has been disbanded, in favour of a family friendly messy church service midweek, so perhaps that’s where the congregation’s gone.

But it does host various groups and classes, and community events that are well attended. We went up to a brass band concert there at the weekend, and it was packed out.

Oh, and it’s a beautiful church, so still very much in demand for weddings and Christenings.

My Presbyterian church is growing. It is very plain and we meet in a school hall as we don’t have a building. We are bursting at the seams, mainly young families. Most of the local churches are thriving but not the Anglicans so much. As far as I know the Catholic Churches are going well,too. Stick to the Bible, nothing fancy, seems to be the way to go. That’s what I reckon, anyway!

Some of our local churches now share staff

I am not religious but I find it really sad, especially now visits to school will stop. I think it is very sad for the children to lack that part of their education.

It is always good to teach children to have open minds and be respectful of others faiths and the stories were always good, with sound morals

It is a sad time

I wish we could find an empty church for our congregation. We are packed into the school hall and have to pay rent and of course it is not available except Sunday mornings. There are no empty churches nearby though. I think , here in Victoria ,there is a bit of a revival going on, especially since Covid. Sometimes a few good things come from terrible events.

I had written a long post on this yesterday but it disappeared into the ether! I gave up going to my local church a few years ago. I could not get on with the new vicar but gave him a couple of years. To no avail so I now attend a Benefice of seven churches. I have heard that this not so new vicar is becoming decidedly unpopular. There have been complaints to the Bishop from the church wardens. I won’t go into the reasons for this. However, it seems that unless a vicar has committed adultery or worse, the congregation is stuck with him. I find it very sad. I can see the village church from my house but must drive to churches elsewhere now. I attended it for thirty years but I can not face sitting in church and listening to an anti-women, anti-gay person at the altar. To make it worse in my view, he does the PR for a group of very conservative bishops. That bunch of men who refused to take communion in the presence of other bishops who either supported gay marriage or were in that type of relationship.

No shortage of church goers here our village is crammed with cars on a Sunday the C of E church has a large congregation. I have also noticed about four churches different denominations within a mile are now food banks.

Is there a lack of vicars?
There don't seem to be many new, young Anglican vicars filling posts.

The Roman Catholic church which my Mum attended is packed every Sunday, sometimes people have to stand.

Clearly the C of E are not doing something right.

Callistemon21

Is there a lack of vicars?
There don't seem to be many new, young Anglican vicars filling posts.

There certainly is in Methodism.
Didnt used to be so until up to about 5 years ago.
I think the same could be said about C of E except their problems may have started a little earlier.

fancythat

Callistemon21

Is there a lack of vicars?
There don't seem to be many new, young Anglican vicars filling posts.

There certainly is in Methodism.
Didnt used to be so until up to about 5 years ago.
I think the same could be said about C of E except their problems may have started a little earlier.

The ones I know seem to have either taken it up as a second profession in middle age or are still working despite nearing retirement and ill health.

I don’t think any of the powers that be have really grasped the problem, but certainly a church will be more likely to thrive and grow if they have a resident vicar. It is just not possible these days, but how someone is meant to cover up to ten rural churches is beyond me.
Even in the RC church the local priest has three large congegations, each about 20 miles apart.

Urmstongran

I just think we are becoming a more secular society.

I agree as witnessed by the last Census. As a Humanist I think the decline of the church is inevitable, despite the hot spots of activity in some parts. I was brought up in the Methodist tradition and still have a soft spot for them. I think the church performs a useful social function, where people meet regularly and in the best churches, care for one another.

My active humanist group, performs a social and caring function which I guess is similar to the church, but without reference to a supernatural god. What I do miss is a good sing, which raises the spirits. Will have to suggest.

Only in the uk,though. There is no decline here or in many of the countries over our way. Very strong in Fiji, Vanuatu, Noumea and Samoa. Many Chinese people who have come to live here are devout and active members of Christian churches. Also, it seems, in some of the former communist countries and certainly in parts of Africa - Christians and Muslims .

My local Methodist church has just had an influx of two families of Caribbean origin and several ex-Hong Kong

We need humanist/non-religious vicars to fulfil the support role that vicars used to do when they were surrounded by believers and not up to eyes in admin.

The role is still needed.

We share that support role in our group Luckygirl. There are volunteers who manage support lines, some members are part of the hospital chaplaincy group, and some go into schools. We are also represented in the local interfaith forum. It is true that it helps if you have an enthusiastic leader, but it is possible to share the pastoral role. There is also active participation by members in many charity groups, and we have various offshoot social groups.

Interesting thought, on two fronts.
Where would they come from? How would you find them?
Social services? Charities?

Much needed, as so many people need support of one sort or another. But a lot of this is in fact being done by lay people, not vicars, volunteers. Almost all churches run some sort of groups to support others, one way or another.

Should highly trained clergy with their particular gifts and insights, be bogged down in admin? Few churches can afford an administrator, and if they can, there is still so much that only clergy can do.

I forgot to add that the evangelical vicar gave a sermon recently on how he and his wife speak in tongues,he left an open invitation, that it was ok for us to do so also!.I found it really insulting to the remaining elderley long term anglo catholics who attended.The remaining few members wondered if it was a ploy to close the church? makes you think.I no longer attend the church,back to the quakers for me!

Ladyleftfieldover

It doesn't have to be serious moral or criminal misbehaviour, it is possible to argue for "Irretrievable Pastoral Breakdown".

I am not suggesting any kind of witch hunt but letters to Archdeacons and Bishops are heeded.

In addition, most incumbents' posts these days are fixed term contracts, the idea of Freehold for Life has gone.

Speaking in tongues - the Bible states it should only be done, if there is someone present to interpret.
Where I live in NI churches are thriving, and they are very community minded.

Speaking in tongues - head in hands here!

Why do you discount it Luckygirl? It is a fairly common experience.

Mumofmadboys I can't discount it, as its in the Bible, but I don't understand it at all.

Glossolalia is common practice in some evangelical churches and I have witnessed it and I find it interesting, similar to when I have seen people falling backwards in a trance like state at a healing service.
It would be interesting to know if neuroscientists have studied it but there are only a few out of date studies that I have found.

I suspect that it can be explained neurologically rather than evidence of personal divine contact, but of course, as with many things religious, believers are more influenced by personal experience.