Resources
- SIGNPOSTS KEY Resources for Rural Mission & Ministry
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LFiRC - Life & Faith in Rural Communities
This project of the Arthur Rank Centre was active from 2005-2008. However, the material produced during that time continues to be relevant.
This material all comes under the general heading of "Church & Countryside", and represents a wide range of information about rural churches & communities. It has proved of ongoing use to rural church practitioners and research students.
The vast majority of the 385 entries here are in the form of .pdf dcouments representing: text; notes; extracts from published materials; data in various forms - tables, charts & graphs; and rural church or community statistics.
Feel free to use these in any way you wish, but please note the dates that are associated with them! You can search the entries by scrolling down the list below, which is in strictly alphabetical order, or you can search more generally for key words in the title or description with the "Search" function at the top right of this web page.
Brief notes & extracts from published paper looking at 'models' of the church in the NT & in contemporary rural contexts
Adult Employment in England 2001 - Total, Rural & Urban compared by employment category
Comparison of Church Attenders and General Population of England 2001 by age & gender distribution
Detailed study of rural statistical information concerning ageing & age profiles of rural populations
Notes on & extracts from paper "The Greying Countryside" looking at the nature of ageing & migration in the rural population
Summary of material reflecting on how agricultural change has affected and continues to affect the British countryside
List of all districts in the 3 rural categories, including details of population etc. - Key Market Town figures included in ordering
List of all districts in the 3 rural categories, including details of population etc. - Key Market Town figures included in ordering
Detailed GB-wide survey of general population attendance at places of worship in 2005 - with analysis of rural population
Various surveys of attendance at religious services or church-based activities across England, Wales & Scotland for certain years between 1983 & 2004
Notes & findings on church attendance patterns in Teme Valley South group of Anglican parishes in Worcestershire from 2000
Report of a comprehensive survey into church membership & attendance and its relationship to social capital for the Baptist Union of Great Britain
Presentation of results from 2005 survey of attitudes of the general popualtion to the church - both as a community resource and as cultural heritage - including analysis of rural community inmhabitants
Analysis of detailed GB-wide survey of general population attitudes to churches or places of worship and attendance at them from 2003 - breakdown by urban/rural & degree of rurality
Charts showing average % annual in-migration for 10 districts with highest levels of in-migration for 1997/98-1999/2000 & 2002/03-2004/05
Map showing average earnings for all districts in England in 2000-2001
Survey of data from 2001 English census to give average houshold sizes for different urban & rural settlement types & sparsity (population density)
Comparison of average household sizes for the urban & rural sub-populations of all English regions (except London)
Comparison of average household sizes for the urban & rural sub-populations of selected rural districts - 16 R-80, 16 R-50 & 14 SR districts
Presentation of comprehensive figures on average church sizes for rural Baptist churches in each Association of England (and some in Wales)
Summary table on numbers of small & rural churches in each Baptist Union Association within England for 2003
Flow chart describing the detailed breakdown of the Local & Unitary Authority districts by rurality. Based on the new governmenet rural-urban definitions.
Flow chart outlining the new government rural-urban definitions
Presentation of data from two published studies looking at beliefs & churchgoing in rural England from 1993 - belonging to church,religious affiliation, church attendance, sense of identity, understanding of church leadership
Extracts from published material & statistical data assessing various features of belief & churchgoing in rural England - with notes & comments
Comprehensive notes & extracts from published paper describing & analysing the different groups to be found within rural communities & churches, and how this reflects on their relationship with the local church
Portal for all yearly British Social Attitudes Survey data & its presentation - often containing material relevant for rural & religion. Registration is required - but still free!
Maps showing the distribution of England's population according to the new government rural-urban definitions: (1) by settlement type, (2) by sparsity. This uses the so-called Census "Output Areas" as the basic demographic unit.
Summary of comprehensive study into the involvement of the church in community based activity
Notes & comments on a comprehensive study of aspects of change & communal conflict - both related to agriculture & beyond
Comparison of regular church attendance patterns between 1983 & 2004 - for Anglicans, Roman Catholics & Other Christians
Comprehensive presentation of statistical data tracking changes in rural churches 1989-1998, with comparisons to general population changes in the same period
Presentation of statistical data predicting changes in rural churches 1989-2010 - looking at nos. of churches, attendance & 2 types of rural church
Detailed statistical data from the rural community of Elmdon in Essex looking at changes in population make-up over 2 decades - 1960-1980
Assessment of the decrease in average household size in Great Britain 1961-2005
Survey & comparison of available figures on changes in household size - both rural & urban - 1991-2006 for Lancashire & Lancaster District
Survey of changes in Christian, non-Christian & no religious affiliation 1983-2004 - with details of various Christian denominations
Survey of the religious affiliation of urban & rural populations, and the distribution of churches across urban & rural areas
Extracts from published material on Church of England historical mission in relation to contemporary social values and factors affecting this - including notes & comments
Presentation of data on relationship between church & community and on community perceptions of church in five Church of England dioceses studied, and their benefices
Presentation of data on different types of church attendance in five Church of England dioceses studied, and their benefices
Presentation of data on rurality of five Church of England dioceses studied, and their benefices
Extracts from major published study of the rural Church of England 1988-1990 (with notes & comments) - looking at the nature of the rural communities involved
Extracts from major published study of the rural Church of England 1988-1990 (with notes & comments) - looking at the nature of the churches & congregations involved
Extracts from major published study of the rural Church of England 1988-1990 (with notes & comments) - looking at the nature of attendance & congregations
Survey of changes in church & other religious membership 1983-1999 for several different categories
Series of diagrams & text illustrating & detailing the varying nature of relationships between rural church & community
Survey of UK population in 2006 assessing various categories of churchgoing & non-churchgoing
Summary of changing church attendance patterns in GB between 1991 and 1999
Detailed assessment of church attendance at various types of service, and in terms of gender & socio-economic grouping, from five rural dioceses of the Church of England
Combined figures for 5 Protestant denominations showing church attendance frequency - from one Sunday in 2001
Detailed study of church attendance patterns from one deanery within the Diocese of Chester - frequency, regularity, age profile
Popular article - summarising academic research - assessing the effects of church closures on church attendance in rural communities
Analysis of Methodist church closures in relation to membership statistics
Extracts from published research on Methodist church closures in relation to membership statistics - with notes & comments
Figures from research looking at correlations between church closure & attendance figures in rual Church of England dioceses
Notes & comments on research looking at correlations between church closure & attendance figures in rual Church of England dioceses
Survey of average Sunday & weekly attendance and electoral roll figures - and their changes over time - at diocesan level for the Church in Wales 1990-2004
Brief extracts from published material on (lack of) correlation between geographical location and church leaving
Overall church membership & attendance changes across a range of MDCs (more developed countries) including GB 1991-98
Notes & comments on the relationship of the electoral roll and church membership & attendance for the Church of England
Detailed analysis of average weekly all age attendance and changes 2001-2005 across all Church of England dioceses
Detailed analysis of average weekly all age attendance and changes 2001-2005 across just rural Church of England dioceses
Attendance & Electoral Roll figures & changes across Church of England 2001-2002 - by geographical location
Various types of attendance & changes in the period 2002-2005 summarised on maps showin all Church of England dioceses
Average attendance per church for each diocese of the Church of England in 2002 - including analysis of rural dioceses
Detailed analysis of average weekly child attendance and changes 2001-2005 across all Church of England dioceses
Detailed analysis of average weekly child attendance and changes 2001-2005 across rural Church of England dioceses
Alphabetical table of Church of England Dioceses, with urban-rural designations based on new government rural definitions
Map of Church of England Dioceses, with urban-rural designations based on new government rural definitions
Church of England dioceses identified by percentage of so-called "rural" or "city" parishes. Produced prior to the new government rural-urban definitions.
Using Church of England figures for percentages of "rural" or "city" parishes in each diocese to give unofficial rural designation. Not using the new government rural-urban definitions. Listed Alphabetically.
Using Church of England figures for percentages of "rural" or "city" parishes in each diocese to give unofficial rural designation. Not using the new government rural-urban definitions. Ordered by decreasing proportions of rural parishes.
Survey of statistcs on parish & attendance nos. for the Church of England 2002 by detailed geographical location
Survey of statistcs on parish, church & membership nos. for the Church of England 2003-05 by general geographical location
2003 figures presenting how Church of England parishes are distributed across a broad range of location categories - including rural
Presentation of research looking at development & frequency of new "fress expressions" of church in parishes across the Church of England
2007 figures showing proportions of Church of England parishes in various categories of attendance or electoral roll figures
Maps of England showing distribution of Church of England parishes by both degree of rurality & sparsity (population density)
Using Church of England figures to give a picture of percentage of parishes in different geographical locations. Not using the new government rural-urban definitions
Percentage of total diocesan population attending Church of England churches in 2002 - for each diocese and with analysis for rural dioceses
Typical Church of England congregational attendance using figures from 5 selected locations in two dioceses - analysed by gender & age
Variety of statistical information (e.g. attendance, clergy, finance) from the Church of England based on figures from 2003-04
Presentation of figures for membership in the Church of Scotland by presbytery 1998-2004, and changes over that period - with an attempt to identify & compare rural & urban
Notes on & extracts from parts of a publication looking at the features of rural communities & rural churches that impact work with children within these communities
Extracts from published report on church attendance and non-attendance throughout UK in 2006 - with notes & comments
Extracts from published material on Church of England churchgoing patterns and factors affecting this - including notes & comments
Analysis of various sets of detailed figures reflecting full-time stipendiary clergy deployment across all Church of England dioceses
Analysis of various sets of detailed figures reflecting full-time stipendiary clergy deployment across all Church of England dioceses
Analysis of various sets of general figures refleceting full-time stipendiary clergy deployment across all Church of England dioceses - comparing rural & urban
Extracts from, and notes about, unpublished 1994 paper on applied theology in a rural context
Pyramid illustration - with practical example - of the levels at which any community can be engaged with
Amusing illustration of matching community expectations with church resources
Notes & extracts from larger published work focusing on community ministry - briefly focusing on the rural context
Threefold influences on sustainability of any community, but especially rural
Extracts from published material on Church of England mission in the local community and factors affecting this - including notes & comments
Pattern for the identification of rural communities centred around the urban environment. Taken from information in Russell's "The Country Parish" (1986)
Summary of substantial research into how local Anglican parishes contribute to the well-being of their surrounding communities
