How Many Anglicans ?
Su t,—Either Janus or the reference-book he has used clearly errs in giving the number of " Anglicans in England, Scotland and Wales " as 2,360,000. What would appear to have happened is that the figures for parochial Easter communicants have been mistaken for those of membership, but this result omits all who are too young to have been confirmed and large numbers in the Services and in many kinds of institutions, as well as night workers, many sick and holiday-makers abroad. The latest avail- able figure (1947) for parochial Easter communicants in England alone is 1,859,115. If the Services, &c., were added the total figure for com- municants should very substantially exceed 2,000,000. Some guide to the adult membership in the parishes is given by the 1949 total of 2,953,016 on the Electoral Rolls. Total " membership " of the Church of England is guess-work, but the figures for the Episcopal Church in Scotland are suggestive. With 55,300 communicants, that Church claims 108,800 members. Perhaps the most significant figure is that 66 per cent. of the children born in England are baptised in the Church of England. Yours faithfully,
ROBERT STOKES, Editor, " The Official Year Bock of the Church of England." Church House, Dean's Yard, Westminster, S.W.i.
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