WANTING TO KNOW GOD

IS Accrington really the 28th worst place to live in the United Kingdom, as claimed in a New Year poll?

Accrington Christians Together conducted their own poll this month to see what locals thought.

Helped by two dozen students in their recent campaign, “Hope for Hyndburn ’22” they interviewed 227 shoppers on Accrington market.

“Was that poll fair?” they were asked. Almost half of them, some angrily, said “Yes”.

Asked about the future, 99 said they felt

“hopeless” about Accrington, while only 69 were hopeful.

Fifty were undecided and the remainder didn’t want to comment.

Comments ranged wide...“few shops... nothing to do...a dwindling market...little investment,” and the shutting of the town loos in Peel Street some years ago got the biggest frown.

Hopeful comments included “people know each other...it’s a lovely village atmosphere... good support networks...it’d be okay but for online shopping...I feel safe.”

Asked where local people found hope, top of the poll was family (81 votes), with friends second (30), then God/ religion (25). Surprisingly, children and grandchildren came fourth with only 13 votes.

The war and Ukraine was strongly influential when people were asked about wider hopes.

Some said they were “terrified” listening to the evening news.

More than half (127) felt hopeless, with only 73 hopeful.

God got the biggest vote in the students’ Hope survey. More than half agreed that “a loving God” gave hope to the world, with only 52 voting against.

Asked if they would like to know God personally, a remarkable 142 locals said yes with 35 declining the offer.

Kevin Logan

Accrington Christians Together