A report was published this month on church growth called From Anecdote to Evidence. The researchers found two correlations which are important to note for worship in our churches. First, they found no evidence that any particular type or style of worship had a definite effect on growing the Church.

Second, they found that growing churches tended to be those were intentional about their pattern and style of worship. Growing churches, it seems, have thought about their worship.

Our Kingdom People vision that each church needs to be “renewed and transformed by regular worship” is backed up by evidence. Churches which have reflected on and adapted an appropriate pattern of worship tend to show evidence of transformation, renewal and growth. But there is no single pattern, no magic recipe, no imposition of a particular style which has to be adopted. There’s a lot to learn from a wide range of styles, approaches and resources. What matters most as a church community is thinking about and developing an attractive, engaging, welcoming and appropriate pattern of worship in your particular place.

One starting place is the Church of England’s official Transforming Worship page.

Doug Chaplin
Mission Development Officer