Local churches optimistic of growth

A new poll for The Baptist Times indicates that most Christians in the UK are confident of an increase in the number of people attending their own churches over the next 20 years.

The poll of 512 Christians was carried out for the newspaper by ComRes and published on Thursday.

The results buck the assumption that the UK church is in irreversible decline, with 65 per cent saying they believed their congregation would increase “dramatically” or “somewhat” in the next two decades.

Denominationally speaking, Methodists are the most confident of a growth in numbers at their churches at 79 per cent, followed by Baptists and Anglicans at 67 per cent.

In terms of theological grouping, those who described themselves as charismatic were most confident, with ninety per cent believing attendance at their churches would increase and 41 per cent believing it would increase "dramatically".

Pentecostal believers proved the least confident in growth at their churches, with only 31 per cent believing they would see an increase and 46 per cent predicting a decrease in attendance.

Interestingly, those with faith in their own church’s growth appeared less confident in the growth of the church as a whole in the UK.

Only 48 per cent said they believed the church would grow over the next 20 years, while a quarter said it would decrease “somewhat” – double the proportion who believe their own congregation will decline somewhat (13 per cent).

While just three per cent of those surveyed believed their own churches would decline “dramatically”, seven per cent said they believed the UK church would decline “dramatically”.

"These figures show that the UK church is in good heart notwithstanding the strident voices of anti-Christian propagandists," said The Baptist Times editor, the Rev Mark Woods.

"The fact that confidence is less regarding the future of the church as a whole indicates that Christians are not immune from the negative publicity their faith receives in much of the secular media.

"However, it appears that their actual experience of congregational life is far more positive. Churches which are warm and welcoming, and offer a credible intellectual and spiritual framework of belief to their adherents, are very likely to see growth."