A recent poll indicates that some churchgoers may never return to worship if their local church closes.
The survey, conducted by the National Churches Trust which involved 2,667 UK Christians, suggested that in-person church attendance could drop by nearly 30 per cent following the closure of a local church.
The poll found that over one in five (22 per cent) of those currently attending services in person would be unwilling or unable to attend a different church if theirs were to close.
Additionally, 7 per cent of respondents said they would shift to online worship only if their church closed, while another 7 per cent indicated they would attend a different church but less frequently than they do now.
Adults aged 65 and over, were identified as the most likely to disengage from regular church attendance, with just 19 per cent of this group indicating they would find a new church to attend as often as they currently do. Even among younger adults aged 18 to 24, only 28 per cent said they would seek out a new church.
Eddie Tulasiewicz, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the National Churches Trust, told Premier Christian News that the findings were "disturbing" because "closing a church really hurts Christians". He stressed how church closures particularly affect those who are "older and less mobile".
He also stressed how "the pace of church closures is stepping up".
The Rev. Alisdair Laird, Area Dean and vicar to the twenty rural parishes of South Holderness deanery in East Yorkshire, is familiar with the impact of church closures. Last year, All Saints Church in Burstwick, a Grade one listed building in his area, was forced to close, leaving many worshippers feeling a profound sense of loss.
"Once a church building closes, particularly in villages and small towns, it often feels like the historic heart of the community has been abandoned—not just for those who share the Christian faith, but for everyone" Laird told Christian Today.
However, Laird also noted a silver lining: people in his area are increasingly making the effort to attend neighboring churches, especially when transportation is provided for those who don't drive. He emphasised that welcoming newcomers into a new church community is crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and growth.