by Obianuju Mbah, Christian Today
A nationwide survey by UK charity National Churches Trust has raised concerns that as many as 2,000 churches across the UK could close within the next five years.
The charity, which works to assist and preserve historic church buildings, gathered 3,600 responses from congregations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May and June.
The findings, published in the October edition of Future First, reveal that while most congregations remain optimistic about the future of their buildings, a small but significant proportion fear closure is imminent.
According to the survey, nearly 70% of respondents are confident their church will still be open for worship in 2030, with a further 26% saying it is “probably” secure.
However, 5% said they were unsure their church could survive, a figure which, if applied nationally, would amount to around one in every 20 congregations shutting their doors.
Churches in rural areas emerged as the most vulnerable, with 7% of respondents from countryside locations anticipating closure.
If borne out, this would equate to around 900 rural churches closing in the next five years.