From Mr Richard Barnes
Sir, - There is a mathematical mistake in your report "Survey
reveals falling numbers" (News, 20 June). The
reduction in the percentage of people identifying themselves as C
of E from 27 per cent in 2003 to 16 per cent in 2013 is a drop to,
not of, 59 per cent of the 2003 figure. So the opening statement
that the proportion has "more than halved" is also wrong; it has
fallen by two-fifths.
Correcting the maths is easy; identifying the reasons is
trickier. Obviously "C of E" is no longer the default answer that
it used to be, while being spiritual, secular, or atheist has
become more fashionable. Another decade of confusion over gender
and sexuality cannot have helped, either.
Dare I also suggest, however, that the Archbishop of
Canterbury's brave new Church of Eton, all Alpha and no Omega, may
be off-putting to those whose faith is tenuous rather than
strenuous, and who feel that they are no longer worthy to count
themselves as Christian?
Since I am not healthy, wealthy, white-smiling, and driven, I
sometimes wonder whether the Church would prefer me outside being
missioned to rather than inside needing pastoral care.
RICHARD BARNES
7 Dinham Crescent
Exeter EX4 4EF