Online Worship Church Attendance
2021-04-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Church of England has been using virtual and digital methods for worship during the pandemic. The question arises from the need to assess if these methods have impacted traditional in-person attendance.
What assessment the Church of England has made of the effect of online worship on church attendance?
The Church has been using all sorts of virtual and digital ways to worship in a highly effective manner, and that will need to continue as we open up again. The Church has reached many more people as a result.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide an assessment or statistics on the effect of online worship on church attendance.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Some parishes have gone weeks without public worship services due to the pandemic, leading to concerns about the future role of clergy in communities.
While I acknowledge the challenges that churches have faced in organising services of public worship, I am somewhat disappointed with the many weeks that some parishes have gone without services. What concerns me is that, if the Church quite reasonably uses more online resources in coming years, it should not use that to reduce the number of clergy, who have a much wider role in our communities than providing services. Can my hon. Friend assure me that this will not be used an excuse for reducing clergy numbers?
Increasing numbers of churches are now open again across the country, and while online services will no doubt continue, they are not seen as a substitute for meeting in person. Clergy have played an essential role during the pandemic, and I thank them warmly for everything they have done. My hon. Friend will be reassured to know that the Archbishop of York told the General Synod in February that the Church needs more priests, not less, and a parish system “revitalised” for its future mission to the nation, building on the work that the Church has done so well to tell the good news of Jesus and to meet need during the pandemic.
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Assessment & feedback
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Response accuracy