Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Online Worship: Church Attendance

Thursday 22 April 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Church of England has been using virtual and digital methods for worship effectively during the pandemic.
  • Many churches in the UK have reopened, though online services are expected to continue.
  • Clergy have been essential during the pandemic, and the minister expressed gratitude for their work.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Religion & Faith
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.

Question

What assessment the Church of England has made of the effect of online worship on church attendance?

Answer from Andrew Selous

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an assessment or statistics on the effect of online worship on church attendance.

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Q2 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Religion & Faith
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Andrew Selous

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.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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