1. The future of church buildings in England some research findings
Professor Linda Woodhead
Dr Janneke Blokland

2. Almost two thirds of Church of England churches are in rural areas of England About 78% of the Church of England’s 15,700 churches are listed; three quarters of the grade I listed buildings are in rural areas A quarter of the churches in rural areas have congregations fewer than ten In Exeter Diocese, one of the most rural dioceses of the Church of England, 72 of the approximately 600 churches, so over 10%, have regular congregations of fewer than ten people.

11. Thinking about a small town or a village, which of the following do you think it is MOST important to preserve, even if there is another one a 15 minute drive away? (Please select up to two)
General store
Health center
Primary school
Post office
Community centre/village hall
Medieval village church
Library
None of these
Don't know
Gen pop 32 31 29 25 15 10 5 2 6

12. Health center/hospital School Supermarket/foodstore Post office
Thinking about an urban area (a neighbourhood within a city), which of the following do you think it is MOST important to preserve, even if there is another one a 15 minute walk away? (Please select up to two)
Health center/hospital
School
Supermarket/foodstore
Post office
Community centre
Historic church building
Library
None of these
Don't know
Gen pop 40 30 23 18 13 12 9 3 7

13. A local body set up for the purpose
Some medieval churches belonging to the Church of England are facing closure. In your view, who should be given responsibility for finding new uses for these historic buildings? (Please select up to two)
The Church of England
The local community
The National Trust
A local body set up for the purpose
A national body set up for the purpose
The government
Not applicable - I don’t care what happens to these buildings
Other
Don't know
Gen pop 41 26 21 16 13 8 7 9

14. In your view, what new uses would be most acceptable for historic village churches? (Please select up to three)
Community uses
Whatever local people want
Arts and culture
Religious uses
Tourism
Health and wellbeing
Convert into housing
Social care
Rituals and ceremonies
Commercial uses
None of these
Don't know
Gen pop 50 45 24 22 13 12 9 4 1 8

15. Whatever local people want Arts and culture Religious uses Social care
In your view, what new uses would be most acceptable for historic churches in urban areas? (Please select up to three)
Community uses
Whatever local people want
Arts and culture
Religious uses
Social care
Health and wellbeing
Convert into housing
Tourism
Rituals and ceremonies
Commercial uses
None of these
Don't know
Gen pop 50 45 24 22 13 12 9 4 1 8

16. Which of these general options would you MOST favour for the future use of historic church buildings which the Church of England can no longer support? (Please select up to three)
Gen pop
Give to the local community to run as they see fit 43
Place in the care of an existing national membership organisation (like the National Trust) 39
Turn into a common space open to everyone 25
Rent for non-commercial/charitable purposes 24
Set up a new national membership organisation for the task 12
Sell to the highest bidder for conversion to housing 11
Sell to the highest bidder for other uses (e.g. restaurant or commercial outlet) 9
Rent for commercial uses 7
State funding/fund from the public purse 6
Mothball and preserve 4
Allow to decay into a picturesque ruin and green space 3
None of these
Don't know

17. Which of these general options would you LEAST favour for the future use of historic church buildings which the Church of England can no longer support? (Please select up to three)
[If an answer option was selected in the previous question it was not included in this list]
Sell to the highest bidder for other uses 36
Sell to the highest bidder for conversion to housing 35
Rent for commercial uses 27
Mothball and preserve 21
State funding/fund from the public purse 20
Allow to decay into a picturesque ruin and green space 16
Set up a new national membership organisation for the task 6
Give to the local community to run as they see fit 5
Turn into a common space open to everyone 4
Place in the care of an existing national membership organisation (like the National Trust)
Rent for non-commercial/charitable purposes 3
None of these 2
Don't know 12

18. Which of these activities of the Church of England do you consider most important? (Please select up to four)
Personal rituals like weddings and funerals 42
Supporting Christian values in society 39
Sunday worship in churches 32
Social work/social care 23
Hospital chaplains 16
Supporting local and civic events 15
Chaplains to the armed forces 13
Organising public rituals (e.g. state funerals, royal weddings) 12
Supporting historic church buildings
Church schools 11
Running cathedrals 6
University and college chaplains 2
Chaplains to parliament and the legal profession 1
None of these
Don't know 17

19. Which of these activities of the Church of England do you consider most important? (Please select up to four)
Personal rituals like weddings and funerals
Supporting Christian values in society
Sunday worship in churches
Social work/social care
Hospital chaplains
Supporting local and civic events
Chaplains to the armed forces
Organising public rituals (e.g. state funerals, royal weddings)
Supporting historic church buildings
Church schools
Running cathedrals
University and college chaplains
Chaplains to parliament and the legal profession
None of these
Don't know
18-24
25-39
40-59
60+ 38 30 44 52 25 24 41 55 16 21 34 45 26 17 14 18 22 15 12 7 9 11 13 8 10 4 6 3 1 2 19