From the Revd Dr David Goodhew and the Ven. Bob
Jackson
Sir, - The report recently published by the Church Commissioners
in the Resourcing Mission Bulletin, "Stronger as One?", concludes
that amalgamating more and more churches under fewer and fewer
clergy has had no effect on church growth. We strongly question
this conclusion.
We were part of a team that researched this subject for the
"Anecdote to Evidence" programme published in January. We did find
significant correlations between amalgamations and decline within
each size group of churches, and believe this research remains
solid.
"Stronger as One?" did not find a correlation, partly because of
problematic data (a significant issue in analysing Church of
England figures) and some technical statistical issues. But, also,
it did not distinguish between different sizes of church. Broadly
speaking, the larger a church, the more likely it is both to have
been shrinking and to be a single-church benefice. This affects the
figures. The effect of amalgamations shows up statistically only
once churches of a similar size are compared with each other.
So, we write to encourage readers to treat this new research
with caution, and not to stop looking both for more clergy and for
new leadership models in the search for a healthy, growing Church
of England.
DAVID GOODHEW
Cranmer Hall, Durham DH1 3RJ
BOB JACKSON
4 Glebe Park, Eyam, Derbyshire S32 5RH