This week, Madeleine Davies and Ed Thornton talk about the latest Statics for Mission which show the average C of E church has just three children attending. And they ask whether social media can help stem the decline in church attendance. Plus, Ed Thornton speaks to Mike McGargue, aka "Science Mike" about his new book, Finding God in the Waves, which tells the story of his dramatic loss of faith, and how he found it again through studying science.

Episode 31 - why are so few children in church? Can social media help? Plus, Mike McHargue interview

Guy Stagg spent 10 months walking from Canterbury to Jerusalem, following medieval pilgrim paths across 5,500 km. 

He began the journey after several years of mental illness, hoping that the walk would heal him. A non-believer, he wanted to understand religion by taking part in its rituals.

The Crossway, published by Picador, is an account of his journey, a mix of travel and memoir, history and current affairs.

Guy came into Church Times offices to talk about his extraordinary journey. The Crossway is available to buy from the Church House Bookshop.

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The Crossway - writer Guy Stagg on his 10-month walk from Canterbury to Jerusalem

The Coronavirus, Church & You survey was set up to assess experiences of and responses to the Covid-19 pandemic among churchgoers in the UK.

In this week’s podcast, Church Times editor Paul Handley discusses the results of the survey with its creators, the Revd Andrew Village, Professor of Practical and Empirical Theology, and Canon Leslie J. Francis, Visiting Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, both at York St John University.

They consider levels of stress and spiritual well-being during lockdown, the highs and lows of online worship, and give insights from clergy and lay people, Evangelicals, and Anglo-Catholics.

“Clergy are interesting. . . If you look at lay people, they were less stressed, but they were less happy. Clergy reported better spiritual wellbeing, but more stress.”

You can still take part in the survey: https://yorksj.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAYhUS8YSvn0ir3

Podcast edited by Serena Long

Get the Church Times delivered for 10 weeks for just £10: www.churchtimes.co.uk/10-weeks

How have churchgoers coped during the pandemic? Leslie Francis and Andrew Village

News, interviews, book reviews, and discussion each week from the Church Times - the world's leading newspaper on faith and the Church.

How have churchgoers coped during the pandemic? Leslie Francis and Andrew Village

The Church Times Podcast

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