FULL statistics on church attendance in 2023 have confirmed the picture given by preliminary figures in spring this year (News, 24 May), with some minor upwards revisions. The figures show an increase in attendance from 2022, with a particularly substantial increase at Christmas and Easter services.
Weekly attendance rose to 693,000 in 2023 (revised up from the figure of 685,000 reported in May). This amounts to an increase of 4.5 per cent compared with the figures for 2022.
Although overall attendance still remains below the levels recorded before the pandemic, the number of regular worshippers has risen back to just over one million. In 2019, it was recorded that the C of E’s “Worshipping Community” (those attending once a month or more) numbered 1,114,000.
Close to two million people attended Christmas services in 2023: an increase of 20 per cent on the previous year. In 2019, 2.3 million attended Christmas services. Attendance at Easter also grew substantially between 2022 and 2023, with an extra 74,000 in the latter year.
In the decade from 2009 to 2019, most key measures of attendance fell by between 15 and 20 per cent, and by three per cent since 2014 (News, 16 October 2020).
The decline in church attendance has had a knock-on effect on church finances. In a review of diocesan finances published in June, attendance was described as a “key driver of weakened financial sustainability” (News, 21 June).
Archbishop of Canterbury to celebrate Christmas privately. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Lambeth Palace confirmed that Archbishop Welby would not be taking part in Advent or Christmas services at Canterbury Cathedral, before he relinquishes his post at Epiphany.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that Archbishop Welby’s final day in post would be 6 January, with his duties covered from that date by the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, and the Bishop of Dover.
It had previously been announced that he would cease his official duties at Epiphany, but is now confirmed that he will formally relinquish his position on that date. The spokesperson said that Archbishop Welby would be spending Christmas with his family, and reiterated that he “intends very little public-facing activity between now and Epiphany” (News, 22 November).