900 new churchgoers six months after 'Back to Church Sunday'

Six months after the Back to Church Sunday evangelistic campaign, figures from the Diocese of Lichfield show that between 700 and 900 of the 6,000 people who came Back to Church in the area on 29 September last year are now regular churchgoers. And a further 3,000 people are still in some contact with their local church.

The figures were released by the Archdeacon of Walsall, the Ven Bob Jackson, on the day it was announced that this year's Back to Church Sunday will be run internationally.

Thirty-eight Church of England dioceses from Cornwall to Newcastle will join with Churches Together in Scotland, the Church in Wales, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed churches nationwide, Elim Pentecostal churches and Anglican churches in New Zealand and Canada for Back to Church Sunday on 28 September 2008.

This represents exponential growth for Back to Church Sunday, which began in Manchester in 2004 with the message 'Missing You', and spread to Wakefield in 2005, nine Church of England dioceses in 2006 and 20 in 2007, when 20,000 people came back to church in one day.

Last year, the Diocese of Lichfield was the largest participant in Back to Church Sunday. Churchgoers in Staffordshire, the northern half of Shropshire and most of the Black Country issued 35,000 personal invitations to 'come back to church' and these were backed up with a radio and roadside advertising campaign.

Research suggests that 6,000 people came back to church in the Diocese of Lichfield on Back to Church Sunday 2007 and that six months later between 700 and 900 (12-15 per cent) had become regular members. About a further 3,000 are still in touch with their inviting churches and may have come at Christmas or to a social event.

Bob Jackson said: "People invite their friends on Back to Church Sunday with no strings attached. We know many people will gladly respond to this.

"What we've proved is that up to 15 per cent like it so much they want to come back for good.

"No wonder Back to Church Sunday has been such an encouragement. This year we want to work hard on improving our welcome even more."

Ian Bunce, the head of mission for the Baptist Union, which represents more than 2,000 churches, trialed Back to Church Sunday last year in the North West and is now promoting it nationally.

"We are delighted to be part of Back to Church Sunday. We believe the concept of a personal invitation really works. For people to have the opportunity to try church again with a friend is a great concept."

The 2008 resources centre on a special and personal invitation, with a place card bearing the emblem 'VIP'. The venture is supported by Traidcraft, which produces fairly traded and environmentally friendly resources for churches to advertise their invitation and welcome.

Local churches receive a Back to Church pack, with invitations, posters, prayer cards, balloons, welcome team tshirts, with 'friendly feedback' cards for newcomers. Participating dioceses and denominations are additionally supported with multimedia training resources and 'top tips' style factsheets to use in 'welcome workshops' over the summer.