Bishops visit county in bid to 'halt church decline'

THE Barnard Castle deanery played host to the Bishop of Blackburn as part of a larger effort to drum up interest in the Church of England.
The Rt Revd Julian Henderson was one of 25 bishops from across the north who descended on County Durham as part of Talking Jesus, four days of activities working alongside local churches and Christian communities.
Instigated by the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, it was the third event of its type having been held in the diocese of Sheffield in 2015 and Blackburn last year.
Rt Revd Henderson brought a team of five colleagues with him, who were based at churches across Teesdale.
He said the event aimed to make the church more outward looking, “believing we have got something important to say to the wider world”.
He added that while research showed one in five people were open to a conversation about faith, fewer than one per cent of people who live in the Durham diocese attend church either on a Sunday or midweek.
“That says something of the challenge there is,” he said.
“There has been a decline in numbers over the years and if that continues there will not be people in our buildings in 20 to 30 years’ time.
“We need to know why the work being done in schools is not being translated into people in church – especially young people. We have to reverse the trend.”
Rt Revd Henderson said there were a number of factors involved.
“Life for many people is pretty comfortable. We live in a very materialistic society – why do we need God?
“A lot of people’s lives are very full and very busy. There is not much time to attend worship on a Sunday or on a weekday. There is something of an apathy about spirituality.”
During his visit to the dale, Rt Revd Henderson visited several schools and had a look round Enterprise House, on Harmire Enterprise Park, Barnard Castle, meeting local business people.
He also went along to cheer on those taking part in the Leap of Faith at Gainford St Mary’s Church – although being scared of heights, he decided not to join in.
He also took part in a Q&A session with students at Barnard Castle School, visited Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution and took part in an ecumenical service at Lynesack. The Talking Jesus weekend concluded with a service at Durham Cathedral on Sunday afternoon.