John Spence told the General Synod yesterday that many rural Anglican parishes have very few people in them, all of whom are over the age of 70. He said across the whole of England, two-thirds of Anglican membership are aged 55 or more.
In addition, Mr Spence told the General Synod Church of England attendance is decreasing by one percent a year. Separate figures have shown Church of England attendance decrease by 41% from 1980 to 2012.
A combination of declining attendance and ageing membership means a "threat to the presence of church", according to Mr Spence.
Mr Spence also said 3 in 4 current Church of England members would no longer exist by 2057, if current trends continue.
He said: "We know that we have large numbers of parishes now with very small electoral rolls and with nobody on them below the age of 70.
"We know from what at least two diocesan bishops have said that in less than ten years we will see a threat to the presence of church in communities across rural England and some urban areas as well.
"... over a period 2007 to 2057, church attendance and membership would fall from 1.2 million on a regular basis to something like two or three hundred thousand if current trends continue."
"And we can see the Church being eliminated from its key, absolutely essential role of promoting the risen Christ in those places.