Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2018

The Church of England in the First Decade of the 21st Century

Findings from the Church Times Surveys

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Examines changes in the Church of England at the beginning of the twenty-first century
  • Uses data to form the basis for discussion and reflection
  • Uncovers important trends that will shape the church evolves in the coming years

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Introduction

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 1-21
  3. The Surveys and the Analysis

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 23-43
  4. Basic Beliefs

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 45-71
  5. Marriage and Divorce

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 73-96
  6. Women in Leadership

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 97-116
  7. Sexual Orientation

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 117-136
  8. Confidence in Leadership

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 137-158
  9. Discipleship

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 159-177
  10. Belonging and Serving

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 179-211
  11. Church Schools

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 213-232
  12. Conclusions

    • Andrew Village
    Pages 233-257
  13. Back Matter

    Pages 259-263

About this book

This book analyzes two large surveys of clergy and lay people in the Church of England taken in 2001 and 2013. The period between the two surveys was one of turbulence and change, and the surveys offer a unique insight into how such change affected grassroots opinion on topics such as marriage, women’s ordination, sexual orientation, and the leadership of the Church. Andrew Village analyzes each topic to show how opinion varied by sex, age, education, location, ordination, and church tradition. Shifts that occurred in the period between the two surveys are then examined, and the results paint a detailed picture of how beliefs and attitudes vary across the Church and have evolved over time. This work uncovers some unforeseen but important trends that will shape the trajectory of the Church in the years ahead.

Reviews

“Village’s exploration of the main ’tribes’ that make up the modern Church of England is essential reading for any who want to understand that challenges and opportunities that face the Church in this present generation.” (David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, UK)

“Societies change—they always have and always will. Should churches follow suit?  There are no easy answers to this question, but the careful sifting of data discussed in this book helps us to understand better the issues at stake and how different groups of people react to them.  I recommend it warmly.” (Grace Davie, University of Exeter, UK)

“What do practicing Anglicans think about the key issues of church life?  Have those views changed in recent years?  The answers are by turns fascinating, mundane, heartening, and maddening, just like the Church itself.  This book is worth reading for the commentary alone. Andrew Village is unfailingly clear, informative, and thoughtful.” (David Voas, University College London, UK)

“The period framed by these two Church Times surveys has seen tremendous change within the Church of England. During these 12 years,  the Church has seen three Archbishops of Canterbury, the consecration of the first women bishop, and challenging debates over same sex relationships.   Professor Villages’ analysis of the data, presented in an approachable and engaging way, provides a fascinating insight into the changing nature of the modern Anglican Church of England.” (Mandy Robbins, Wrexham Glyndŵr University, UK)

 

Authors and Affiliations

  • York St John University, York, UK

    Andrew Village

About the author

Andrew Village is Professor of Practical and Empirical Theology at York St John University. His previous books include The Bible and Lay People (2007), Preaching with All Souls (2008), and Encountering the Bible (2016). 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Church of England in the First Decade of the 21st Century

  • Book Subtitle: Findings from the Church Times Surveys

  • Authors: Andrew Village

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04528-9

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-04527-2Published: 21 December 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-40536-6Published: 18 February 2020

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-04528-9Published: 11 December 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVII, 263

  • Number of Illustrations: 61 b/w illustrations, 1 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Religion and Society, Sociology of Religion, Christianity

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access