England Fears the Canary in the Coalmine Effect. No Wait, They Are Deliberately Closing Their Congregations.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's fish-hat adds a touch of irony in ecclesiatical plumage.

Archbishop Heiser's Almy couture is a bit odd, suggesting they hide themselves behind the superfluous masks, as if no one would notice the pot-bellies.

Church Mouse asks the pertinent questions:

What’s on Anglican priests’ minds: Church of England attendance rates in ‘doom spiral’

February 20, 2024 in Anglican, clergy, Protestant, surveys | Tags: 2024, Anglican, Anglican priests, clergy, England, priests, Protestant, Revd Marcus Walker, survey, UK

Well, well, well.

Who would have been surprised to discover that Church of England rates are still on the decline post-pandemic? Remember how the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was so quick to shut churches during lockdown back in the Spring of 2020?

I will get to the statistics in a second, but they brought quite a reaction from the Revd Marcus Walker, Rector at St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London, who is also the chairman of the Anglican campaign group, Save the Parish.

He had this to say:

As sure as night follows day if you close parishes and reduce clergy, the number of people who are able to turn up to church will fall.

This is a doom spiral of the church’s own choosing. It has the money to turn this around, the question is: does it have the will?

The Telegraph published the quote as well as the statistics on Saturday, February 17, 2024, ‘Clergy warn of “doom spiral” as church attendance drops off at record rate’ (emphases mine below):

Sunday church attendance is just 80 per cent of what it was in 2019, Telegraph analysis has revealed, despite the Church of England claiming that it has “bounced back” after the pandemic …‌

‌In 2023, The Telegraph published an investigation which revealed that parishes are closing at a record rate, prompting fears that the Church had been “dealt a death knell”.

‌The investigation found that almost 300 parishes have disappeared in the past five years alone – the fastest rate since records began in 1960. 

The figures came against the backdrop of claims that senior bishops and clergy were “putting a gun to people’s heads” to drive through controversial plans to cut costs, merge parishes and cut vicars.

They also came amid declining congregation numbers, leaving many clergy afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs.

The Telegraph has analysed new data from the Church of England’s latest Statistics for Mission 2022 report, and has found that across the country, usual Sunday church attendance sits at 81 per cent of 2019 levels, meaning that 133,200 regular parishioners had not returned to the Church despite the end of Covid restrictions.

The Telegraph said that the CofE criticised the paper’s previous reporting, but the reporters stand by the numbers:

The Telegraph’s previous reporting on the fall in regular parishioners in 2021 had been described as “misleading” by the Church, as some Covid restrictions were still in place at the time the 2021 report was compiled.

‌However, the latest figures suggest that this is not the case.‌

Furthermore, the data show that a further 28 parishes were closed or merged in the past year, which has been controversial among churchgoers.

This, however, is below the record-breaking rate of reductions seen in the preceding five years when an average of 56 parishes ceased a year.

‌Across the country, 41 churches were closed, meaning 641 churches have been closed since 2000 or 4 per cent.

Despite some recovery in post-pandemic attendance, overall, the big picture does not look good:

… year on year, average attendance has increased by seven per cent.

‌This means that since 1987, usual Sunday church attendance has more than halved (-52.8 per cent), declining from 1.2 million to 556,800.‌

The peaks and troughs vary across England:

In Durham, just three-quarters (73 per cent) of usual congregants have returned, whilst in St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, it is 89 per cent, the highest in the country …‌

‌Furthermore, over the past six years, usual Sunday church attendees have declined at a record rate with an average 32,616 fewer attendees per year.‌

The CofE put its own spin on the figures:

According to the Church of England’s most recent data, contained in its Statistics for Mission, it claimed that nearly a million people were regular worshippers in 2023 as the Church “continued its post-pandemic bounce back” …

Responding to The Telegraph’s latest analysis, a Church spokesman said: “The Church of England’s 2022 Statistics for Mission – the latest available – showed a welcome rise in attendance for the second year in a row with nearly a million regular worshippers in Church of England churches …

“There is unprecedented investment in mission and ministry taking place in the Church of England of £3.6 billion up to 2031.”

However, that ‘unprecedented investment in mission and ministry’ does not mean that Anglican churches are likely to stay open. The reality, as those involved with Save the Parish will testify, actually means that many are vulnerable to closure. As it is, clergy in some parts of England, particularly Cornwall, are spread thinly on the ground over large benefices.

The Revd Mr Walker is right: the Church has the money, but does it have the will? That is the question.

Photoshop fitted these two clowns with the low church couture befitting WELS pastors. With little Latin and less Greek, they entertain their flocks instead of leading them. Do not question them - they will take a church member to court for telling the truth.

The Church Mouse Article on the Queen's Death.Look for the RATS.

 The article is found on the Church Mouse blog.

The Queen’s death: how Operation London Bridge probably worked

September 27, 2022 in history | Tags: Charles III, death, Duke of Norfolk, Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, England, government, history, London, media, Operation London Bridge, Operation Unicorn, radio, Scotland, television, UK

In 2017, The Guardian posted a long article: ‘”London Bridge is down”: the secret plan for the days after the Queen’s death’.

***

GJ - His articles are always worth reading. The link will take you to the complete essay.

British News Often Treats Our Stories Much More Honestly

 Church Mouse first turned my attention to Q.

Epstein theories are discussed and linked here on Church Mouse Campanologist.

ChurchMouse = Extensive Coverage of Notre Dame Plans

Notre Dame, Paris

Virtual Tours of Paris

Not knowing the circumstances surrounding the inferno at Notre-Dame in Paris is bad enough.

Now lovers of the mediaeval cathedral, the French capital’s monumental house of worship, wonder what is meant by the words ‘restoration’ and ‘rebuilding’.

Does the French government consider the two words to be the same as the average person who treasures what was lost? What about expert architects? What about building contractors?

The entire ChurchMouse article about Notre Dame is here.

 Follow ChurchMouse for future Notre Dame developments.
He is a campanologist.

Yale Gothic - Harkness Tower - Downtown Campus

ChurchMouse Blogger Used a Recent Ichabod Sermon for a Post

 Readers have noticed a steady stream of well researched posts from ChurchMouse Campanologist. He is British and cares deeply about our country's well being.

His latest post:

My longest standing and most loyal supporter has been the Revd Dr Gregory Jackson, a Lutheran clergyman who follows the Augsburg Confession of faith.

On November 21, 2018, Dr Jackson posted his online worship service for Thanksgiving Eve. His sermon was about the errors of the social gospel, which, over the past century and a bit, has come to supplant the Good News of the Gospel.

The rest of the ChurchMouse Campanologist post and some excellent resources at the end are linked here.

When Harry wed Meghan | Churchmouse Campanologist

When Harry wed Meghan | Churchmouse Campanologist:



"I was of two minds as to whether to report on the royal wedding which took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018.

I turned off the television after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — Harry and Meghan — took their preliminary vows."

 Nothing fancy, just a little chapel.

'via Blog this'

The London Eye Features a Big, Blue Q

 I enjoyed this post, which is either misdirection or misinformed. The Ferris Wheel is the London Eye.
Keep an eye on the news and the tweets.

For Campanologists - The Love and Promotion of Church Bells

For More Information - See Church Mouse.

ChurchMouse Follows Q. Q: ‘future proves past’ with Rod Rosenstein subpoena | Churchmouse Campanologist

 ChurchMouse loves our country and follows our political events. Q is a system of messages sent to supporters of the President.

 Some use this graphic.

Q: ‘future proves past’ with Rod Rosenstein subpoena | Churchmouse Campanologist:

When President Trump met with the military,
this photo suggested a Q.

"When we’re talking about Q and the forecasted Storm, a lot of people expect to see everything that’s happening.

If they cannot ‘see’ the Storm, it’s not happening.

Q took on board 8chan contributors’ comments a few months ago and began to make more information public — 40 per cent instead of 20 per cent (message 527):"

 The caption on this bell. from a movie, is often used
among Q followers - Where we go one, we go all.

'via Blog this'

***

GJ - I avoid political discussions on this blog because my expertise is in theology and history. However, I would be negligent if I failed to mention the enormous following enjoyed by the Q posts, which are rather cryptic. Readers can find an abundance of information on the Internet, at FreeRepublic.com, on YouTube, and many political forums. The mainstream news people are ignoring this, as far as I can tell. ChurchMouse has been posting on the topic, so keep an eye on the left column where my favorite blogs are listed, right under the yuuuuuuge page view numbers.

The Vatican is an officially recognized state with its own diplomatic corps. Therefore, news about Pope Francis is always world news and involves far more than liturgical colors and the price of incense.

When the Jesuit Antichrist is an apostate, as judged by Catholic dogma, it is time to be on the alert. More than ever before, the Pastoral Epistles are proving that the Apostle Paul was correct.

1 Timothy 4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

2 Timothy 4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

This must be read with 1 and 2 Timothy.

2 Thessalonians 2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away (Apostasy) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 "The Dancing Word." No really, this was a performance in a
Roman Catholic church.

ChurchMouse Blog Turns Nine - Churchmouse Campanologist | Ringing the bells for Christian traditions and getting our story out there. If we don’t, who will?

Nine years old already?

Churchmouse Campanologist | Ringing the bells for Christian traditions and getting our story out there. If we don’t, who will?:

"I would like to thank my fellow bloggers for their continued support and loyalty, both of which are very much appreciated. I would like to extend special thanks to those who have reblogged my posts.

Subscriber numbers have continued to markedly increase over the past year. I am most grateful for your readership and insightful comments.

My top ten posts over the past year are as follows:

1/  This quiz can help you find the right denomination  (30,495 views, 1st place fourth year running)

2/  Big news coming, ‘Q Clearance’ Anon says (4,606 views)

3/  FBI Anon speaks — part 1 (3,679, down from 2nd last year)

4/  The Anglican Prayer of Humble Access (2,675, up from 9th last year)

5/  Lamb’s hearts — a tasty, affordable alternative to stir-fried steak (2,473, up from 6th last year)

6/  Brendan Dilley’s Intel Source: part 1 (2,230)

7/  The rosary — should you be wearing it? (1,747, up from 10th last year)

8/  The 5 Solas of Calvinism for non-Calvinists (1,649)

9/  Cadbury Dairy Milk: when chocolate won’t melt, there’s a problem (1,641)

10/ How George Washington died — horribly (1,626)

Thank you to all my readers who have helped make these posts into Churchmouse Campanologist ‘classics’!

In closing, I would like to extend a warm welcome to my newest subscribers. Your readership is much appreciated."



'via Blog this'

***

GJ - ChurchMouse covers many topics, and they are always well researched and well written. When I was collecting military books, the British publications were the best.

ChurchMouse Wrote Again

 Read ChurchMouse on a wide variety of topics,including American politics.

Dear Dr Jackson

Thank you very much for your email and for the post mentioning my site!  I greatly appreciate both as well as the bump in traffic!

This was my favourite sentence:

he is one of the few religious bloggers I respect. 

J That made my week, if not year! J

C.

 Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler

***

GJ - Readers will use their time wisely in following ChurchMouse, linked at the top of the left-hand column. The favorite blogs list will stay right below the views statistics. The newest post is always on top, so a friendly competition ensues to stay on top.

I also admire the work of Dr. Lito Cruz and Alec Satin, with Alec earning two links, a rare distinction.

ChurchMouse corrected me about Dilbert and Conservative Tree House. Dilbert's author has a political column but it is not CTH. The trouble with so much reading on so many topics is merging things together. I try to be excruciatingly precise in theology, so something has to slip at times.

Without overt nudging, CM has encouraged me to report more on the political situation in America. I plan to do that, more to encourage research by the readers, definitely not to serve as the Oracle of Delphi or the interpreter of Q. 

ChurchMouse asked specifically about Norma A. Boeckler, which is another indication of her international appeal and influence.

 Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler

ChurchMouse Copies Ichabod Copying Breitbart Pope awards Dutch abortion activist distinguished medal | Churchmouse Campanologist

Pope awards Dutch abortion activist distinguished medal | Churchmouse Campanologist:



"Honestly, you can’t make this up.

Thanks to my Lutheran cyberfriend, the Revd Gregory Jackson from Ichabod, I discovered that Pope Francis has awarded a Dutch abortion activist with a distinguished medal.

For anyone thinking, ‘I’m not a Catholic, no need to worry’, if you’re in any one of the following Lutheran synods, Revd Jackson warns (highlight mine):

The UniSynod Loves This Pope – ELCA-WELS-ELS-LCMS-CLC (sic)

His post has the link to the relevant Breitbart article from January 17, 2018, excerpted below (emphases mine outside of the first paragraph):

Pope Francis has conferred the title of “Commander of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great” on Lilianne Ploumen, a Dutch politician and vocal agitator for abortion rights."

 It's getting better?

 It's getting better!

'via Blog this'

 The white arrow is not a tattoo -
just be thankful for that.

Plough Monday — the Monday after Epiphany | Churchmouse Campanologist

Plough Monday — the Monday after Epiphany | Churchmouse Campanologist:



"Last year, I wrote an extensive post on Plough Monday, which is the first Monday after Epiphany:

The English tradition of Plough Monday

I thought I had covered the waterfront with regard to this ancient festival but found more history about the day that signalled a return to full time agricultural work on the Tuesday.

Ploughing matches

When Plough Monday was widely celebrated, some farmers would have had their ploughs blessed at church on Sunday. Other villages had a communal plough at the church which was blessed annually."



'via Blog this'

A Jolly Message from the Church Mouse Campanologist

I had fun creating this for Church Mouse when we first met
via blogging. 

Dear Dr Jackson,

Thank you very much for the two mentions of my blog over Christmas. I greatly appreciate them and your readers stopping by to read the posts.

I also very much appreciate your support over the years, which has meant a lot to me – and to the blog!

I hope that you, Chris and your family, particularly your grandchildren, had a happy and blessed Christmas.

All best wishes to you and yours for 2018, especially for health, happiness -- and good gardening.

Happy New Year!

Kindest regards

Churchmouse

Campanology means the study or enjoyment of bells.
This is Harkness Tower at Yale, one of the best in America.

 More bells at Harkness.

 The exterior of Harkness tower, which is 216 feet tall.

***

GJ - As I wrote earlier, the Church Mouse Campanologist remains one of the most informed, researched, and worthwhile blogs around. 

I would love to list more blogs, but most remind me of the scene in a comedy where a woman is writing at a typewriter. I believe George S. Kaufman wrote it.

The innocent person asks why she is writing. Her answer describes the bulk of blogging today. "This typewriter arrived at our house and I started writing."

That is, pressing the orange publish button on Google blogger does not make one a writer. Inane discussion websites (LutherQuest (sic), ALPB Online Forum, et al.) are only good for copying their banal statements.

Notre Dame is playing LSU, and yet there are 7,700 views on Ichabod today - so far. The opponents would hasten to say, "But the count started last night at 6 PM." True, and that when most of the views happened, about 6,000 overnight. The high levels of viewing encourage me to post more, so I will.

December 26 — St Stephen’s Day, Boxing Day and more | Churchmouse Campanologist

December 26 — St Stephen’s Day, Boxing Day and more | Churchmouse Campanologist:

Campanologist - Study of, enjoyment of bell ringing, casting

"St Stephen’s Day

Stephen was the Church’s first martyr.

Students of the Bible and readers who have been following my series on Acts this year, will recall his story. Saul of Tarsus — St Paul — had a huge role to play in Stephen’s stoning.

Stephen was the first to offer an apologetic for a belief in Jesus:

Acts 7:2b-8 – Stephen, deacon, appearing before the court in the temple, apologetics, Abraham"



'via Blog this'

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GJ - I wanted to feature a few worthwhile blogs, and Churchmouse Campanologist has always been a favorite of mine. He offers a wealth of detail from what I assume is a lifetime of research.

St. Stephen's Day reminds me that one of Luther's best sermons is for this particular day. That is posted above.

Centenary of the Battle of the Somme — July 1, 2016 | Churchmouse Campanologist

Centenary of the Battle of the Somme — July 1, 2016 | Churchmouse Campanologist:


"The Battle of the Somme began at 7:30 a.m. July 1, 1916 is still regarded as the worst day in British military history. On that day alone, 57,470 men were killed or injured; 19,240 died. By the time the battle ended on November 18, more than one million men — British, French and German — had been wounded or killed."

more at the link above

Somme debuted the first military tank.

'via Blog this'

J. C. Ryle: An Anglican Bishop of the Old School - From Churchmouse, 2011

J C Ryle: an Anglican bishop of the old school « Churchmouse Campanologist:

As an antidote to the recent Church of England debacle involving St Paul’s Cathedral and Occupy, it seems apposite to examine a bishop who did much for the Church: J C Ryle.

John Charles Ryle was born in 1816 to a wealthy banker.  Having attended Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, his family expected him to pursue a career in politics.  However, Ryle felt called to the priesthood and was ordained in 1842.

Read more at this link. The quotations are especially worthwhile.

Would that we had priests and bishops like this today.

My chief desire in all my writings, is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him beautiful and glorious in the eyes of men; and to promote the increase of repentance, faith, and holiness upon earth.

ChurchMouse Quotes Our Easter Sunday Sermon

On Easter Sunday, Dr Gregory Jackson of Ichabod posted an outstanding expository sermon on the resurrection.

Please read it in full. Excerpts follow below.

The text is Mark 16:1-8 (KJV):

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Emphases in bold mine below, apart from the Scripture verses and title.

The Lesson Where Jesus Is Absent

KJV Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 

This Gospel lesson is so important in considering the meaning of the empty tomb. Instead of featuring Jesus, His works and statements, this lesson emphasizes the absence of Jesus, because the women went to honor His body and He was not there to be honored. This is the only Gospel lesson I can recall where Jesus is absent.

The rest of the post is found at this ChurchMouse link.

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GJ - ChurchMouse does not want me to quote his posts in their entirety. I am not sure if that applies to quoting ChurchMouse quoting me. At any rate, I am pleased this sermon meant so much to my distant blogging friend.

I enjoy his posts and I appreciate his kindly emails.