Suffolk church attendance rises above national average

Why it matters: The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, which announced the figures, received £5m in Strategic Development Funding from the national Church of England between 2019 and 2025, designed to reverse national trends through targeted community outreach programmes.

The details: Inspiring Ipswich received £2.7m and made 36,376 new contacts with people outside the church through top-up shops, school assemblies, prayer spaces and Christmas services. The total worshipping community within Ipswich increased by 20% between 2019 and 2024.

Growing in God in the Countryside received £2.3m to expand rural congregations through small groups in the Lightwave Community. The project has created 41 small groups, with 19% of benefices now running small ecclesial groups focused on outreach.

What they're saying: Gary Peverley, diocesan secretary, said: "The latest reported attendance figures highlight an encouraging trend in worship participation, particularly among children, within the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich compared to national averages. I am delighted by this news as it indicates that our commitment to our Growing In God vision is working."

Tim Holder, diocesan director of engagement, said: "It is this commitment that leads to large number of church volunteers being engaged with supporting their communities with projects such as top-up shops, parish pantries, well-being support groups, cafés, lunch clubs, youth groups, toddler groups, rural chaplaincy and more."

The bottom line: Suffolk's churches credit targeted investment in community outreach for attendance growth that significantly outstrips national Church of England figures.