The number of people regularly giving to the Church of England (CofE) has fallen by almost a third (30 per cent) in the last decade, according to the latest figures published by Church House, Westminster.

The figures, which date from 2022, were released last month and have been analysed by The Church Times.

They show that in 2021 there were 401,000 regular givers, with average weekly attendance of 567,000. However, the following year, there was a £10m rise in collections taken at church services as a result of churches re-opening after the pandemic.

Despite this, income from giving was not enough to keep pace with inflation between 2019 and 2022.

The analysis shows that while the average amount given weekly by parishioners has risen every year in recent decades, it decreased from £16.80 in 2021 to £16.20 in 2022.

There was some good news though as income in the Dioceses of Truro, Chelmsford and Norwich increased by more than 20 per cent between 2021 and 2022. However, in Sodor & Man it fell by 45 per cent.

Some Church of England initiatives such as the Parish Giving Scheme and contactless giving have encouraged more church-goers to give. The CofE’s national adviser on giving and income generation, Jonathan de Bernhardt Wood, said earlier this week that it is vital to make sure that “people fully understand that local ministry is funded by local people.”