Survival of the CofE
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 8:42 pm
A week ago The Guardian ran a feature about the decline of Anglican churchgoing and how parish churches are falling into disrepair. I only introduce this subject because some of us will have grown up at CH with the glories of the Anglican liturgy, the stirring hymns, the King James Bible and the Cranmer prayer book. It's hard to shake off. Cultural Christians I think they call us, although I have to call myself an atheist these days.
Anyway, in my usual facetious way, I posted a letter to The Grauniad (which hasn't gone in, not yet anyway), which suggested that in this Thatcherite age the churches should try and revive themselves by getting sponsorship from a body which had some connection with the saint in question. For instance, my local parish church might become the Mates Condoms Church of St Mary Magdelane. And St Peter (the rock on which Christ was to found his church) might approach the local aggregate merchants for a donation. St Andrew (who abandoned his fishing nets to follow Christ) might make good PR for Fish Fingers, and Richard Dawkins might be tapped for supporting the church of St Thomas, both of them having had doubts at some point.
Anyway, I wonder if Old Blues have any more suggestions? Maybe CH's own chapel might have some ideas.
Anyway, in my usual facetious way, I posted a letter to The Grauniad (which hasn't gone in, not yet anyway), which suggested that in this Thatcherite age the churches should try and revive themselves by getting sponsorship from a body which had some connection with the saint in question. For instance, my local parish church might become the Mates Condoms Church of St Mary Magdelane. And St Peter (the rock on which Christ was to found his church) might approach the local aggregate merchants for a donation. St Andrew (who abandoned his fishing nets to follow Christ) might make good PR for Fish Fingers, and Richard Dawkins might be tapped for supporting the church of St Thomas, both of them having had doubts at some point.
Anyway, I wonder if Old Blues have any more suggestions? Maybe CH's own chapel might have some ideas.