A poll by the National Churches Trust reports that most people in the United Kingdom recognize the importance of churches and chapels for society.
The study — conducted among 2,061 adults in the UK — and found that three-quarters of them think that churches, meeting houses and chapels are important for society because they offer space for conducting activities and also offer support to local people through acts like providing food banks and warm spaces.
Nearly three-quarters of the respondents — 73 percent — also said that they form part of the history and the rich heritage of the United Kingdom. Moreover, half of the respondents think that the government should offer support to those places of worship to cover the cost of maintenance and repair.
Christian Today reports:
The number of Christians may be declining but affection for church buildings remains strong, a new Savanta poll suggests.
[…]
More than half of UK adults (54%) said they had visited a church, chapel or meeting house in the past year.
A quarter had attended a religious service, while one in five (22%) visited for a non-religious community activity or service such as a foodbank, playgroup, lunch club, concert or meeting.
One in six (17%) said they had visited as a tourist.
Young people were more likely to have visited for a non-religious community activity or service than older respondents – 32% of 18 to 34 year olds, compared with just under a quarter (24%) of 35 to 54 year olds and 12% of people aged 55 and over.
Half of respondents agreed that government support should be available to help churches, chapels and meeting houses cover the cost of repairs and maintenance. Only 22% disagreed, while a quarter said they neither agreed nor disagreed.
Read the full article here.
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