Mystery Worshipper Results on London Churches to be Released at CRE

Results from the first ever Mystery Worshipper Sunday in Greater London will be published online on Tuesday 10 May after a special presentation is given at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey.

The Mystery Worshipper Sunday took place on Sunday 24 April, and followed the same pattern as the mystery shopper concept. Seventy churches across London were visited by volunteer worshipper who reported back on a variety of things, such as hardness of pews, friendliness of congregation, length of sermon among many other things.

Steve Goddard, the co-editor of shipoffools.com – which is the Christian website that is behind the Mystery Worshipper initiative, said of the results, "The tub-thumping mega message is still being preached each week in the capital - but you’ll probably need to seek out one of the smaller denominations for the experience. In fact, the longest sermon in London took a rump-wearying one hour and 20 minutes - and was delivered in French at Pierres Vivantes in Hyde Park."

According to the results, the Church of England seemed to deliver the briefest sermons, with six of the top ten shortest being given by the Anglican Church.

Across the capital, the average sermon length was found to be 20 minutes and 31 seconds.

Editor of shipoffools.com, Simon Jenkins said, "Many of our readers are already committed pew potatoes - but enjoyed the challenge of covertly reviewing churches and traditions with which they are not familiar. Their insights are intriguing, rigorous and wonderfully entertaining."

The organisers of the Mystery Worshipper drive, Simon Jenkins and Steve Goddard will take their place at the 21st National Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) this week. The CRE will take place from 10-13 May 2005, and more than 350 organisations are set to be represented there.

Some of the findings from the Mystery Worshipper Sunday in London can be seen below:

Average length of sermon in London
20 minutes 31 seconds.

10 churches preaching longest sermons
80 mins - Pierres Vivantes, Hyde Park (French-speaking)
60 mins - Kingsway International Christian Centre, Hackney
53 mins - Hillsong, London, Dominion Theatre, Tott Court Rd
52 mins - Westminster Chapel, Buckingham Gate
45 mins - The Reedemed Christian Church of God, Tooting
43 mins - Covent Garden Evangelical Church, Neal St
42 mins - The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Elephant and Castle
35 mins - West Croydon Baptist Church
35 mins - Church of the Nazarene, Clapham Junction
34 mins - Westbourne Grove Independent Baptist, Notting Hill

10 churches preaching shortest sermons
5 mins - Hinde St Methodist, W1
5 mins - St Alfege, Greenwich (C of E)
6 mins - Westminster Abbey (C of E)
6 mins - St Margaret’s, Westminster (C of E)
6 mins - St Stephen’s, Lewisham (C of E)
7 mins - St John the Evangelist, Waterloo (C of E)
7 mins - Brompton Oratory, Kensington/Knightbridge (RC)
8 mins - Our Lady and St Joseph (RC) Dalston, Hackney
8 mins - American Church in London, Tott Ct Rd
8 mins - St Mary the Virgin, Hayes, Middx (C of E)

Churches where no sermon was preached
* Westminster Cathedral
* St Mary the Virgin, Bourne St, Chelsea
* St Paul’s Cathedral
* Moot at St Matthews Westminster Central
* Chelsea Old Church SW3