Saturday, 2 February 2008

Anglicanism; an example of Growth

For many years now, we have seen the constant debate of whether Church Attendance, particularly within the Anglican Commuinion is growing or shrinking. It has always been ephasised that well attended Christmas and Easter Services are a sign of continued Anglican support, yet the recognition of many that this is something that cannot be relied upon, no more than the decline of numbers of those in the Pews during the Summer months.
Recently the Church of England produced a report, showing the varience in attendance.While it is always dissapointing, yet not surprising; there is encouragement in the Dioceses that show growth. Of the 44 Dioceses of the Church of England, these are: Bath & Wells, Chester, Gloucester, Guildford, London, Manchester, Portsmouth, St Albans, Sodor & Man, Wakefield, Winchester, Worcester, and York.
While all the Dioceses have churches that reflect all "Churchmanship", the majority are those not showing the extreme;either Anglo-Catholic at one end or Charimatic at the other. Most they express worship in the "Central or Liberal Tradition" in perspective and :"Open Evangelical" on the other.This could be reflective of true English Anglicanism, which eventually, gravitates to the eventual moderate position within Catholic or Protestant Anglicanism.

No comments: