Depressing statistics showing that church attendance across the country has plunged by 100,000 in two years have not daunted Chelmsford's new Bishop, who this week challenged Anglicans to combat the decline.
The Rt Rev John Gladwin delivered his spiritual battle-cry at a welcome service in Colchester on Sunday, following his recent installation at Chelmsford Cathedral.
He urged congregations to take Christ's message to the booming population, especially around Stansted Airport and the Thames Gateway; to wipe financial problems off the Church agenda; to sell off redundant church buildings and share facilities with other denominations.
Referring to Jesus' miracle of feeding 5,000 people, Bishop John said the Diocese population would soon soar to three million before too long and a priority would be to build community.
He asked: ''How are we going to (spiritually) feed all these people? They are looking for meaning. Bookshops are filled with ranks of new books, and yet there is not a ghost of a link to the Christian message."
The Bishop said they should stop focusing on finances and added: ''Short of money? I don't believe the Church is short of money."
He called for Anglicans whom he said were tied up raising funds to be liberated by generosity so they could meet the real needs of people, such as building 'community' in Essex and East London that would contribute to the future well-being of all.
Published Friday January 30, 2004
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