Risk of empty pulpits if ageing Anglican clerics are not replaced

FIRST it was the crisis of emptying pews, now the Church of England is facing an even more immediate threat from empty pulpits as thousands of ageing clergy prepare to retire.

New figures published by the Church show that a quarter of its current fulltime paid clergy were over the age of 60 last year, meaning they are likely to retire within four years. In some areas, including the Archbishop of Canterbury’s own diocese, the proportion is as high as four in every 10.

The figures also show that only 1.3 per cent of current incumbents are black. It follows a warning from the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, of a “shocking” lack of diversity in the Church’s leadership.

The figures also show that while the overall number of female clergy rose in 2015, the year in which the first women bishops were consecrated, they are still little over a quarter of all paid priests. The Venerable Julian Hubbard, the Church of England’s Director of Ministry, said: “While the number of stipendiary ordinations showed a welcome increase between 2012 and 2015, this is not sufficient to redress the gathering effect of clergy retirements.

“With 25 per cent of stipendiary clergy aged 60 or over, at present rates of ordination this trend will have a material and growing impact on the number of those available to serve in ordained roles,” he added.

“The statistics on the age and ethnicity of clergy show that we still have some way to go to ensure that the whole cohort fully reflects the demographics of the wider community.”