CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Stst,—I notice that " Janus " refers to the commonly made statement that " about to per cent. of the people of this country attend places of worship." While this may be true of the towns I should question it with regard to the country parishes. I have tried two methods of reckoning for this parish church, where the attendance is not (I believe) exceptionally bad or good.
(t) Regular, Sunday-by-Sunday worshippers ... ... 67 Children regular at Divine Worship or Children's Service ... 58 Baptised infants ... 13 Infirm, who would otherwise be present 7 Communicants absent in the Forces ... .•• 15 Adults attending at least twice a month 40 TOTAL ...
(2) Easter Communicants ...
Communicants absent in the Forces ... Unconfirmed children who come regularly ... Baptised infants ...
Infirm ... TOTAL ... 198
In addition, there are at least forty people who come three or four times a year and who would claim to be churchpeople ; so that one can reckon (according as one includes or excludes this latter class) that the Church has between 4o per cent. and 47 per cent. more or less firm adherents of the 52o people in this village. May I add that after seven years here I have learnt two things: first, that the country parishes are the backbone of the C. of E., and with their Church Schools of the religious life of the nation ; second that the amalgamation or union of parishes is quite disastrous and that those urban-bred or urban-minded
clergy who agitate for it must be fought tooth and am, yours
••• ... 105
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