| Nearly half the dioceses in the Church of England have signed up to Back to Church Sunday this weekend, when 20,000 extra people are expected to return to worship. The Church launched its campaign this week by offering tasters — from podcasting to promises of celebrity speakers and after-church wine and nibbles.
The Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Revd David Urquhart, visited 14 parishes by motorbike, dropping in on schools, clergy, and nurseries. Speaking on Tuesday, Bishop Urquhart said: “It has become my usual mode of transport.”
One church in the diocese of Southwark has invited everyone who has complained about the renovation of the church roof. “One of our wardens has invited everyone living there, including one particular gentleman who has complained regularly and loudly. Obviously we don’t know if they will come, but the congregation has really bought into the idea of inviting a friend or someone who has links with the church, perhaps,” said the Priest-in-Charge on Tuesday.
In the diocese of Chelmsford, Tony Anthony, a former kung-fu world champion and reformed criminal, will speak at a special service at St Saviour’s, Westcliff-on-Sea, on Sunday, with the Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Revd Laurie Green.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, launched an online campaign, “Tell Bishop John”, this month, to find out why people no longer came to church. The results can be heard in an interview with Canon David Winter, available as a podcast on the diocese’s website.
The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish, and other diocesan officials took to the city centre on Monday to ask commuters whether they had considered coming back to church.
In Lichfield, the diocese has run a radio and roadside advertising campaign to promote the Sunday.
The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy, and the Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter, released balloons on Monday at two churches. At both launches, children from C of E primary schools joined the bishops.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has commended the campaign. “Back to Church Sunday is a chance for church people to invite a friend to come back and see what they’ve been missing, and to help them reconnect with God in special services of welcome.” |
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