The Church of England is facing a significant decline in attendance, with 169,000 weekly worshippers disappearing over the past four years, leading to a loss of nearly half of parish church attendees. This decline has left many historic church buildings empty and unused, with estimates suggesting that 3,000 to 5,000 parish churches are either closed or used only intermittently. The cost of repairing the Church of England’s entire estate is estimated to be around £1 billion.
In response to this crisis, Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani of Chelmsford has called for a shift away from an obsession with numbers and targets and towards practical action. One proposed solution is for local councils to take control of closed churches and encourage their reuse by social enterprises, potentially transforming them into community spaces such as post offices, shops, libraries, and gyms.
In many European countries, a church tax is levied to keep churches in good repair, and there is strong support among the population to maintain these historic buildings, even if they do not attend services. In Britain, a similar tax could be implemented on a voluntary basis, with the funds going towards the upkeep of local churches.
Ultimately, the key to preserving these important historical landmarks lies in collaboration between the Church of England, local councils, and social enterprises. By working together, they can ensure the survival of these buildings and transform them into valuable community assets.
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