London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

‘A church without walls’: Anglicanism divided on shift away from tradition

‘A church without walls’: Anglicanism divided on shift away from tradition

Plan for new communities led by lay people in unconventional venues has prompted Save the Parish campaign

One Sunday afternoon in September, a small group will gather at the Whisby nature reserve near Lincoln to explore its trails and marvel at the wildlife. Before they set off on a two-hour hike, they may fortify themselves with a hot drink and a slice of cake from the cafe; they might apply sunscreen or don waterproofs. One thing they are certain to do is join together in prayer.

This is Lincoln Forest Church, part of a growing network of Christian communities that meet outdoors to worship and engage with the natural world. “We are a church without walls,” said Melanie Carroll, who started the group five years ago.

Worship is no longer confined to traditional buildings led by vicars in dog collars. The Church of England plans to set up 10,000 new Christian communities over the next 10 years, many led by lay people and based in village halls, cafes, warehouses, empty shops and other unconventional venues.

Lincoln Forest Church, part of a growing network of Christian communities that meet outdoors to worship God and engage with the natural world.


But not without a battle. Many in the C of E are alarmed at the idea of a shift away from the centrality of the traditional parish church, and they are rallying support for a resistance movement drawn from the nation’s pews.

Save the Parish, a campaign launched this summer to preserve “the system that has defined Christianity for 1,000 years”, is calling on supporters to stand in elections this autumn to the General Synod, the C of E’s parliament, explicitly to oppose the vision set out by the church’s top brass.

George Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, has backed the campaign, saying “the current trajectory of our church is a huge mistake and the leadership is out of touch with ordinary churchgoers”. Save the Parish has a sympathetic platform in the Spectator and the Daily Telegraph, to the chagrin of the current archbishops of Canterbury and York, who have publicly criticised “rascally voices”.

The C of E’s declining and ageing congregations have prompted debate about its future for some time, but the Covid pandemic has accelerated the leadership’s push for a new strategy. A sharp fall in parish and diocese income, combined with the surprising success of online worship, during lockdown has led some to question the need for money-draining old buildings and professional, salaried clergy.

The Rev Canon John McGinley, of the evangelical New Wine network, triggered a storm last month when he said that “lay-led churches release the church from key limiting factors” – defined as “a building and a stipend and long, costly college-based training for every leader of the church”.

McGinley’s comments coincided with a “vision and strategy” document, presented by Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, to the C of E synod last month. It aspires to a younger and more diverse church, and a “mixed ecology” that embraces traditional parishes and “fresh expressions” communities aimed at those unlikely to be attracted to conventional services.

According to Father Marcus Walker, the rector of St Bartholomew the Great in central London and a key figure in the Save the Parish campaign, this is the latest iteration of a top-down drive to divert resources from traditional parish churches to “a style of church set up in a cinema or barn or converted Chinese takeaway”.

He was referring to a new church aimed at young people that has just opened in the former Red & Hot Chinese buffet in Rochdale. The building, bought by the diocese of Manchester and two minutes’ walk from St Chad’s parish church, is more flexible than a traditional church building, said minister Janie Cronin, who came to Rochdale from the C of E’s evangelical flagship church, Holy Trinity Brompton.

“We can have bands come to play, serve food to loads of people, offer crafts and activities to families with young children. We’re not in competition with churches nearby, we’re trying to attract different people. We’re already seeing little green shoots,” she said.

The Rochdale church is well resourced – “the C of E has put a lot of money in,” said Cronin – and is currently advertising for a full-time youth worker to join its team. That is in stark contrast, say Save the Parish supporters, to the draining away of funds available to traditional parish churches.

Last year, the diocese of Chelmsford announced it would cut 60 paid clergy posts by the end of this year, with dozens more potentially at risk. In Nuneaton, St Mary’s and St John’s closed earlier this year because of lack of funds to pay a vicar – one of about two dozen churches that shut their doors each year.

The C of E was “leaving [traditional] churches to rot while it plants new cafe churches in their place,” said Sam Margrave, a former community development worker at St Mary’s and St John’s and a lay member of the General Synod. “We need an end to the waste on managers, national spending on expenses or highly paid staff, and recommit to parish churches.”

Dave Male, the C of E’s director of evangelism and discipleship, rejected the claim that parish churches were being run down. The aim was “to revitalise the parish, to make the Church of England healthy and growing and a church for the future,” he said.

“We’re also trying to think about the 90% of the population that aren’t coming to church [fewer than 2% regularly attend C of E churches]. We know not everything we try will work. But if we want to grow, we need to reach out to where people are, and find effective ways of connecting with them.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
×