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Diocese of London and Creative Commons
UK News

Church of England urged to innovate after slump

The Bishop of Islington, Rt Rev Ric Thorpe also said the latest statistics on religious affiliation in Britain present a "huge opportunity" to reflect on current styles and approaches.

Speaking with Premier, he said: "We want to honour and respect the faith of those who are older but also we need to make space for new ways of helping people connect with Jesus Christ today."

Earlier this week, the National Centre for Social Research said the number of people belonging to the Church of England and other Anglican churches in Britain had halved in less than a decade.

The new British Social Attitudes survey found 15 per cent of people in Britain described themselves as Anglican last year, compared to 30 per cent in 2000. The number of Catholics has remained relatively stable.

Bishop Ric said he valued people's "honesty", adding that fewer people now view the Christian faith as something someone inherits.

He said the statistics ought to provoke a time of reflection by the Church of England on how it can package the church in different ways while staying true to the Gospel message.

Bishop Ric added: "For the Church, that presents a good opportunity. We know what's before us and the opportunity that lies before us.

"I guess the heart of it is, 'How can we communicate the Christian faith in our generation?' That's especially a challenge for younger people."

Click here to listen to Premier's John Pantry speaking with Bishop Ric:

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