Local church growth: community is the key

Local church growth: community is the key

Through hosting events and community services, churches are successfully growing their congregations – as well as bringing in vital funds.

That’s the conclusion of a new survey conducted by CRE 25 exhibitor Ecclesiastical Insurance in which 541 churches were asked about their engagement with local communities. The most popular ways they open their doors to locals are:

• Putting on their own events (85%)
• Hosting external events (64%)
• Running community outreach services (62%)
• Being a hub for community use (60%)

Of the community events hosted by churches, almost half (49%) run toddler/baby groups and two in five (40%) run coffee shops. Scout and Guide groups (30%), youth clubs (30%), concerts (30%) and lunch clubs (27%) are also popular ways for churches to open their doors. Almost three out of five (58%) take donations when hosting, while nearly half (49%) take a rental fee for their facilities and a third (32%) make money from the sale of refreshments. 

Three out of five (60%) say hosting events is a way to help grow a congregation.

Nine out of ten (92%) churches believe they offer a vital community hub – a fact backed up by their willingness to offer services such as food banks (pictured), bereavement support, Alcoholics Anonymous groups, Citizen’s Advice drop-ins and warm spaces for those affected by fuel poverty.

During a recent debate in Westminster on the impact of churches and religious buildings on communities, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha de Cordova MP, referenced the National Churches Trust’s ‘House of Good’ report which reveals that for every £1 invested in churches, the resulting benefits to society are worth more than £16. 

Ecclesiastical’s church operations director Helen Richards said: ‘It’s no surprise to see churches opening their doors to the wider community and offering vital services to so many people. This has been true over centuries but with continuing economic instability these services are needed more than ever. By hosting events and community services, churches are successfully growing their congregations – and bringing in vital funds.

‘With the recent “Quiet Revival” report from the Bible Society showing an increase in church attendance, particularly within Gen Z, there is an opportunity for churches to reach a whole new audience.’ A guide to help churches host events has been produced by Ecclesiastical and can be found here.

• Ecclesiastical are on stand M10 at CRE 25

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