Hundreds of churches across Church of England dioceses are hoping to bring thousands of congregants to worship as part of 'Back to Church Sunday' this weekend.
Churches are preparing for a swell of attendants during Sunday Services on 24th September across the Dioceses of Derby, Ripon and Leeds, Manchester, Wakefield, Oxford, Guildford, Hereford and individual churches around the country, as part of the drive for new devotees.The Back to Church Sunday organisers have created a number of resources to accompany the event, including various advertisements that churches have been able to use to attract those who have lost touch with the church.
Researchers at the University of Staffordshire will measure the responses from people returning to churches and build up a picture of how and why people reconnect with church after a time away.
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer said: "People lose touch with church for all sorts of reasons. But we know some are looking for a way back to church and a personal invitation can make all the difference."
One person who came back to church last year was Stuart Dormand, 24, from Wakefield. Dormand was invited by a co-worker in Leeds when she invited him to come back to church with her. He had sung in the church choir as a boy, but he'd never considered church was for him until Elsie invited him.
Dormand testified that he found the church, Christ Church, South Osset in the Diocese of Wakefield, warm and welcoming. He said: "Going back to church for me was the best decision I have ever made - I really love it. I would never even have considered it without the invite from Elsie."
Back to Church Sunday was first trialed in the Diocese of Manchester in 2004, when more than 900 people came back to church. In 2005, the Diocese of Wakefield joined in with similar results.
Traidcraft is providing bars of chocolates for churches to give out to new worshippers as a welcoming gift. Peter Collins, Traidcraft's head of church relations, said, "People in churches have been at the forefront of Traidcraft's work around the world for years: helping people to help themselves. So it is with this gift of chocolate - it's a gift that makes a difference for good."
Traidcraft was established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty. It works with people of all faiths by trading with them directly, supporting them with training and information, and by influencing policy makers to pull down the barriers which stop the poor enjoying their fair share of world trade.
