Latest Church of England Statistics on Fresh Expressions of Church
Number of fresh expressions of Church
- Data from Statistics for Mission indicate that there were around 9,100 fresh expressions of Church (fxCs) in 2019. The number of fxCs has increased over recent years – the figure for 2019 is 25% larger than the one recorded in 2014 (7,300 fxCs).
- A large proportion of dioceses (64%) have statistically significantly growing numbers of fxCs, and just under 80% of dioceses had at least 10% more fxCs in 2019 than in 2014.
- Three dioceses had 10% fewer fxCs in 2019 than in 2014, but in none of them was the fall statistically significant.
- A high turnover of fxCs is to be expected; alongside the new fxCs that start each year, around 1,200 fxCs stopped running between 2018 and 2019.
Attendance at fresh expressions of Church
- Data from Statistics for Mission indicate that the additional average weekly attendance at fxCs (not including attendees who also attend “traditional” church) was 49,000 people in 2019. This represents 6% of the total average weekly attendance at church services and fresh expressions of Church. The additional average weekly attendance at fxCs has increased over recent years – the figure for 2019 is 11% larger than the one recorded in 2014 (44,000 people).
- Children made up 40% (20,000 people) of the additional average weekly attendance at fxCs in 2019.
• Around a quarter of dioceses (26%) have statistically significantly growing additional average weekly attendance at fxCs, with just under half of dioceses (48%) having
at least 10% larger additional average weekly attendance at fxCs in 2019 than in 2014.
- Around a quarter of dioceses (26%) had additional average weekly attendance at fxCs that was 10% smaller in 2019 than in 2014. In two of these dioceses the fall was statistically significant.
Fresh expressions of Church details, 2019
- Around 70% of fxCs meet monthly or more frequently than that, with 40% of fxCs meeting weekly.
- Over half (53%) of fxCs are at least sometimes held in church, with many others meeting in church halls and schools.
- 42% of fxCs are not aimed at any specific age group but are open to all ages. 16% of fxCs are aimed solely at young people (under 18).
- Three quarters (75%) of fxCs reported that at least some of the people attending never attend any other form of church.
Full table of statistics can be found on Page 4 of the latest statistical report.
