The common, if rather unkind, phrase “like a curate’s egg” is usually taken to mean that a novice can only partially boil an egg; consequently some bits are good for eating, but other parts are less so.  The same broad observation can be made about church growth in England in the first part of what are now called the ‘noughties’ (2000 to 2009) - while overall decline is evident, there is nevertheless quite definitely growth in parts.  This article looks at those parts.

 

 

More growing churches

One key finding in the English Church Census was that there were more growing churches in 2005 than in 1998, 34% to 21%, or, in numerical terms, 13,000 churches to 8,000.  That has to be good news!  On the other hand, most of this growth comes from people who transfer out of  a declining church to join one whose ministry is more suited to their circumstances, perhaps because it has better youth activities, more relevant preaching, or just because they’ve moved home.  The growth therefore has much less to do with evangelism than the numbers imply, and the church overall continues to decline.  The Census showed that we have more deaths than conversions in an average year. 

 

However, increased growth does suggest that leadership is changing and is more open to doing things differently - being more effective than efficient (doing right things more than doing things right).  The whole raft of “fresh expressions” is one indication of this.  This, much more than shifting the chairs on the Titanic, has to augur well for the future.

 

 

Size matters

The larger the church the greater the likelihood that it has grown recently.  As the graph below shows, some churches with fewer than 11 in their congregation did see growth (some 18%), usually in the remoter rural areas (as some people “greenshift” and move out of urban environments). 

Growth and decline of Churches between 1998 and 2005 by size in 2005

 

This percentage doubled to 36% for churches with between 51 and 100 people, and then increased to 46% for churches with between 151 and 200 people - almost half the churches this size.

 

It is important, however, to put the graph into proper perspective and the bar-chart gives the number of churches in each size-band, showing the proportion which grew at least 10% between 1998 and 2005.

 

Number of churches by size in 2005, and the number which grew 1998-2005

 

 

Youth & children important

One of the key factors in numerical growth is whether or not a church has ministry among children and young people.  Three-fifths of churches, 61%, have children under 11 attending (which means that 39% have no children!), and many of these will provide some kind of creche or Sunday school.  This encourages families with young children to attend, as having activities relevant for the key 30 to 44 age-band today is almost axiomatic for growth. 

 

Equally critical, however, are activities for the 11-14 age-band, which fewer churches are able to provide.  While older people will often be happy teaching primary or junior age children they find it more difficult to relate to young people who have started secondary school.  A mid-week activity of some kind is virtually essential if a church is to have any hope of keeping this age-group coming on a Sunday.  The problem gets worse for young people over 15, when only two churches in five, 41%, have any present.  Finding those with time, commitment and ability to lead youth activities is hard, which is why so many churches, perhaps as many as one in five, now employ a youth worker.  If they can afford it, many churches now also employ a full-time children’s worker. 

 

Youth activities are not the only cause for growth, however, even though a crucial one.  Other surveys have shown that the relevance of the preaching and the warmth of the welcome are key factors as well.  So is the importance of the church’s vision (where is it going?) and the church’s culture (often caught from the minister).  People today want supportive friends, not just outward friendliness.

 

Growth is therefore very challenging.  Leadership is critical, but so is the lay commitment.  Creativity is hard to find, challenging youth tough going.  But it is in seeing through the chaos of this moment of church life, that vision is found, and growth often follows.