It’s five years since the Church of England began producing a national online service. Since its inception during the first COVID lockdown, it has become a fixture, especially for people who are ill, housebound or living remotely. More than a third of parish churches and those of other denominations have maintained their online Sunday service since the pandemic.
In this briefing, our panel reviews the way churches have adapted worship and other activities to the online space, the benefits of online worship and the impact of this on the number of people attending church in person, as congregations dwindle and church buildings close. Our speakers included:
- Amaris Cole, Head of Digital at the Church of England
- Professor Scott Thumma, co-director of at Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Connecticut;
- Dr Tim Hutchings, University of Nottingham
- Rev Dr Peter Phillips, Programme Director for the MA in Digital Theology and Tutor in Theology at Spurgeons College, London
- Rev Tony Miles, Superintendent Minister and Team Leader of Methodist Central Hall, Westminster and a well-known broadcaster
- Rev Canon Zoe Heming, Canon for Mission at Newcastle Cathedral
- Ben Sims, National Churches Trust Head of Fundraising and Public Affairs
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