The Church of England's provisional attendance figures for 2010 have been released today (Thursday 19th January 2012). The statistics include the denomination's first 'mapping' of fresh expressions of church across all dioceses, revealing at least 1,000 fresh expressions and new forms of church linked to the CofE.
The figures show that approaching 1.7 million people continue to attend Church of England services each month, and around 1.1 million attend one of the Church of England’s 16,000 churches as part of a typical week.
A breakdown of figures by diocese, along with a Powerpoint presentation on the fresh expressions of church statistics are available below or on the Church of England website.
Total attendance
Average weekly attendance was down slightly at 1,116,100 (2009: 1,130,600), with average monthly attendance also slightly down at 1,645,500 (2009: 1,650,600) illustrating how many worship on a convenient day during the month, not necessarily Sunday. Average Sunday attendance dropped two per cent to 923,700 (2009: 944,400). The average number of children and young people at services each week was down two per cent at 218,600 (2009: 223,000); while the number of children and young people attending on a monthly basis was virtually unchanged at 437,700 (2009: 436,200).
Fresh expressions of church
The first ever statistical analysis of fresh expressions of church has concluded that there are at least 1,000 CofE fresh expressions or new congregations across the country. Around 30,000 people attend fresh expressions each month who don't attend traditional regular services, equating to an average of around 40 people per participating parish exploring new forms of church – the statistical equivalent of an additional diocese. Almost all dioceses have reported fresh expressions or new congregations with over half of these initiatives aimed at families with young children.
There are an estimated 1,000 fresh expressions within the Methodist Church.
Graham Cray, Archbishops' Missioner and leader of the Fresh Expressions team, said,
It's inspiring to think how much has happened in so short a time. Since the 2004 Mission-shaped Church report, we have seen the development of some 2,000 fresh expressions of church in the Church of England and Methodist Church. The Holy Spirit has been at work in reaching thousands of people through these fresh expressions and we are all running to keep up. This is hugely encouraging and is a major contribution to the re-evangelization of our land. However it is just a beginning, this is not a quick fix and there is much more to do. Fresh expressions of church are one vital factor, but there is a long haul ahead of us.
Marking life events
Marriages in the Church of England increased by four per cent in 2010 to 54,700 compared to 52,730 in 2009, the biggest increase in any one year over the last 10 years; a rise the CofE puts down to extensive work by the Archbishops' Council’s Weddings Project and the introduction of the 2008 Marriage Measure. Services of prayer and dedication also rose by two per cent to 4,020, up from 3,940.
Child baptisms increased one per cent to 43,850 in 2010, up from 43,480 in 2009; adult baptisms rose one per cent to 11,160 in 2010, up from 11,010; while infant baptisms decreased by one per cent to 83,260, down from 83,820 in 2009.
Funerals in church and crematorium were down two per cent and four per cent respectively.
Celebrating festivals
As a result of poor weather conditions and many cancelled services, all-age attendance at Christmas Eve/Day services in 2010 dropped by five per cent to 2,298,400; all-age attendance on Easter Day dropped by one per cent to 1,394,700.
Nine in 10 Church of England parish churches completed attendance counts, which have been verified across all 16,000 Church of England churches by the Research and Statistics Department of the Archbishops' Council.
Definition of terms
Average Sunday attendance: the average number of attendees at Sunday church services, typically over a four-week period in October.
Average weekly attendance: the average number of attendees at church services throughout the week, typically over a four-week period in October.
Each of the above measures is provided separately for adults and children/young people aged under 16 years. The highest and lowest counts over the four-week period are calculated as follows:
Highest Sunday/weekly attendance: the sum of the highest Sunday (weekly) attendances over the four-week period. The 'highest' figures on the accompanying tables are proxies (in fact under-estimates) for monthly attendance levels.
Lowest Sunday/weekly attendance: the sum of the lowest Sunday (weekly) attendances over the four-week period.
Attendance figures are only included where local churches held at least one church-based service (which included adult presence) during the week under examination.
The traditional usual Sunday attendance (uSa) measure is interpreted differently across the dioceses and is therefore not regarded as statistically accurate as a comparison.