CHURCH STATISTICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1922, Page 7

CHURCH STATISTICS.

ANGLICAN ADHERENTS. CONSIDERABLE INCREASE. NOMINAL MEMBERS PROBLEM. The section of the 1921 census which deals with the religions of the people of New Zealand has not yet been published, but, by courtesy of the Government Statistician, the Dean of Dunedin, Dr. R. A. Fitchett, was recently able to give the approximate results. These' are contained in the following table, which shows the approximate increases in each religion as compared with the official figures for 1916:

The percentage of population in each case was:—Church of England, 411.9; Presbyterians, 23.7; Roman Catholics, 13.8; Methodists, 9.6; Baptists, 1.9; Salvation Army, 0.9; Church of Christ, 0.8; Congregationalists, 0.7; Lutherans, 0.3. Commenting on the increase of Anglican Church adherents in the five years period, the Church Gazette says that it must be regarded as a very satisfactory and substantial gain. The Church’s total in 1911 was 411,600; in 1916, 459,000, and in 1921, 523,000. The increase per cent, in 1916 was 114; in 1921, the increase was nearly 14 per cent. The increase in population during the 1916-1921 period was about 11% per cent., yet the four principal denominations—Anglicans, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and Methodists —showed an increase of between 13 and 14 per cent. It should be borne in mind that an increase of 14 per cent, for the larger religious bodies meant far more than a similar increase in the case of one of the smaller denominations.

“The census figures deserve a good deal of careful thought,” continues the Church Gazette. “They show that as far as numbers are concerned the churches are more than holding their own. This is certainly a hopeful sign in these days when we are being continually told that the churches have lost their hold on the people; but we must not allow the very substantial numerical increase disclosed by the census to blind our eyes to the other side of the picture. The proportion of mere nominal membership is far too great. This unpleasant fact still stares us in the face. The present is an anxious and critical time for churches as well as for States.

“Over forty per eent. of the population of New Zealand have declared themselves to be members of the Anglican Church. Many thousands of people’ who write themselves down on the census paper as ‘Church of England,’ however, live out their lives in almost entire separation from the Church. They merely expect the clergyman to baptise their children, to .officiate at marriage services, and to say a few prayers at the graveside. Such ineffective membership is a weakness to any society. “The Church dare not rest content with things as they are. It must find a way of establishing a more real and vital bond with that large section of its members who are so largely out of touch with its life and ordinances. The effective allegiance of these people ic the great need of the Church, and their need of the Church and the things the Church stand for is equally great,”

Increase 1921. Increase, percent. C. of England 523,000 64,000 13.9 Presbyterians .... 296,000 36,000 12.1 Roman Catholics 173,000 21,000 12.1 Methodists 121,000 15,000 14.1 Baptists 24,000 3,200 15.3 Salvation Army . 11,000 1,000 10.0 Church of Christ 10,500 1,300 14.1 Congregation allsts 9,500 1,300 15.8 Lutherans 4,000 500 14.2 Unitarians Not available.