Continuing decline in church attendance

I CAME across a letter published 10 years ago, from a reader in Totnes, who complained that the leadership of the churches were not engaging with the ordinary believers in the pews and seats. She went on to say that, instead of standing up for scriptural doctrine and practice, they were wanting to... “please the media, the political correction lobbies and whatever is the latest trend”.

Since then, attendance in the traditional churches has continued to decline and it is estimated that only 5% of the population now attend places of worship. It should surely be the desire of all Christians to obey scripture by trying to spread the gospel to the following generations.

The churches that are growing are those who have modern worship but do not compromise the gospel. Most young people are not interested in hymns sung in straight metres accompanied by church organs and repeating liturgies week on week.

I respect those who enjoy that type of service but they are in a minority and must think of others. We can modernise the church without reducing standards or Christian values. Contemporary worship is not compromising our spiritual or moral beliefs as suggested but making the gospel accessible to more people.

John Watts Exeter, Devon