NEWS from the Church of England

Churches make neighbourhoods ‘a better place to live’

More than eight out of 10 people in Britain go into a church or place of worship each year and six in 10 believe a place of worship makes their neighbourhood a better place to live, according to the detailed findings of an Opinion Research Business attitude survey, published this week . The results back up similar findings in 2003.

In the survey, sponsored by the Archbishops’ Council and English Heritage:

• 86% had been into a church building in the previous year – often for several different purposes.
• 58 per cent agreed with the statement ‘places of worship make our neighbourhood a better place to live’ while11 per cent disagreed.
• 72 per cent agreed with the statement ‘a place of worship is an important part of the local community’ while 11 per cent disagreed.
• 72 per cent agreed with the statement ‘places of worship provide valuable social and community facilities’ while 11 per cent disagreed.
• Among respondents who claimed no religious allegiance, 38 per cent, 46 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively, agreed with the statements.

The importance of churches to local communities is further supported in the survey by the desire of respondents for even more from their places of worship:

• 63 per cent agreed with the statement ‘places of worship should be more actively involved in our local community’ while 13 per cent disagreed.
• 69 per cent agreed with the statement ‘places of worship should be more accessible to the local community’ while 8 per cent disagreed.

“These responses show that churches, far from being museum pieces, are living breathing communities reaching out to churchgoers and non-churchgoers, central to their neighbourhoods and making possible much needed and welcomed local facilities of all kinds,” said the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and chair of the Church Heritage Forum.

“The Church of England maintains almost half the Grade 1 listed buildings in England, spending £120 million a year on church repairs. The state, through English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, provides £26 million for repairs to listed church buildings and cathedrals. This research clearly supports the Church’s call for more state funding for the maintenance of not merely the country’s architectural heritage but a central plank of its social cohesion.”

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: “This survey provides further concrete proof of what we have always strongly felt - our places of worship are loved and cherished by the vast majority of people, believers and non-believers alike. It is tremendously good news that nearly half of the people surveyed with no religious allegiance whatsoever still believe that places of worship are an important part of their local community. These figures show the value of our churches and the case for public money if these precious buildings are to be kept in good condition. In May this year English Heritage will be spearheading a campaign, Inspired!, to achieve exactly that.”

It is not just the Church that believes the state should pay more towards the upkeep of churches.

• Asked who they thought ‘is primarily’ responsible for providing money to maintain churches and chapels, 38 per cent suggested central taxation, local taxation, the National Lottery or English Heritage.
• Asked who ‘should be primarily’ responsible, the respondents naming those four sources rose to 46 per cent.
• Among respondents who claimed no religious allegiance, 41 per cent named these four sources.
• In the 2003 ORB survey, 42 per cent thought local churches should receive funding from the state.

Only 14 per cent of those questioned had not attended a church or place of worship in the last year, the same proportion as in the 2003 ORB survey, further supporting the importance of such buildings to communities. Many had been for several different purposes.

• 20 per cent said they had entered a church ‘to seek a quiet space’
• 23 per cent said they were walking past and ‘felt the need to go in’
• 23 per cent had been to a church through their children’s school
• 30 per cent for a concert or theatrical performance
• 38 per cent for a social or community event

All the above show a marked increase on the figures recorded in 2003

• 31 per cent had been to a normal Sunday service
• 11 per cent had been to a weekday service
• 56 per cent had been to a church funeral
• 51 per cent to a wedding
• 47 per cent a memorial service
• 41 per cent had attended a baptism
• Christmas attendance was cited by 43 per cent of respondents
• Easter by 31 per cent
• a Service of Remembrance by 27 per cent
• and Harvest Festivals by 24 per cent.

ORB surveyed 1019 adults aged 18 and over in Great Britain by a random telephone poll between November 4 and 6, 2005, and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults.