C of E to create 100 new churches as number of Anglicans hits new low
by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian:
The Church of England will create more than 100 new churches to “revive the Christian faith in coastal areas, market towns and outer urban housing estates” in the face of a record low number of people identifying as Anglicans.
The £27m plan is part of an ongoing drive to refocus the church on evangelism amid a dramatic decline in the numbers of people regularly attending services and to reform some of its archaic rules.
Despite forecasts that church attendances will continue to fall for years to come, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, insisted churches across the country were “bursting with life”.
The new churches would be in “the places of greatest need in our society”, he add
See also: Church of England sees fall in planned donations for first time in 50 years as millennials fail to engage, by Olivia Rudgard, Telegraph
Church of England funds ambitious growth programme, from C of E website
Church of England blows £7 million on giant inflatable ‘safeguarding’ balloon, by Jules Gomes, Rebel Priest
Church of England may be forced to sell some of its ancient cathedrals to cover their overwhelming debts, by Steve Doughty, MailOnline