Church invites 'could boost congregations'

Churchgoing may be declining, but nearly three million lapsed worshippers say they would return the pews with the right encouragment, new research has found.

About 2.3 million people who have been regular attenders, and a further 600,000 who have barely darkened a church door in their lives, say they are “likely” to go in the future, according to the survey published yesterday.

Most of those questioned indicated that the strongest motivation for going would be if a family member or a friend wanted them to, but a number said they would be tempted by a church invitation.

Difficult personal circumstances, such as redundancy, illness, a bereavement or depression, could also encourage people to seek solace in church. Read more