Not very many Christians left

Read Carol Hawkins' original letter here.

Only half of the population now consider themselves to be even nominally Christian, a sharp decline on 25 years ago.

The respected 2008 British Social Attitudes survey reveals that the proportion who have "no religion" has increased from 31per cent to 43 per cent.

And the steepest fall was among those who say they worship in the Church of England, down from 40 per cent of those who call themselves Christians, to 23 per cent.

Even official Church figures show that the average Sunday attendance was 978,000 last year compared with 1,2 million in 1983.

Of people questioned, 37 per cent either did not believe in God or were unable to say if a supreme being exists, while 35 per cent had a definite belief in God or held some belief with occasional doubts.

A whacking 62 per cent said they now never attended services in a place of worship other than for funerals, weddings or on Christmas Eve.

There is no reason to believe that these figures are not mirrored in Worthing where, in the space of the last few years, several churches have closed with others poised to do so.

The reasons? Speak with any of your neighbours and friends Carol, and you will soon discover why.

Guy Fleming

Address supplied

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