Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing

The Church of England has adapted to declining congregations and a smaller number of priests by amalgamating church parishes into groups served by a single minister. The church in the photograph is one of five looked after by one priest who lives in one of the other villages. The rectory in this village has been sold. There are local lay people who have particular responsibilities, and in some places a local lay minister is available, but generally the Church of England is ill-equipped to serve its communities and care for its resources. Research has suggested that these amalgamations have actually accelerated the decline in numbers attending church services which take place only on some Sundays and at a different time of day from one service to another.
In the post-war years this church, if not actually vibrant, offered regular Sunday services, church fetes, close liaison with the village school, Sunday schools, a choir run by a committed organist, and congregations seldom less than a score and often more.
The Church as an organisation seems permanently comatose whilst observing this. It will point to research and reports, initiatives and missions. There are traditionalists arguing with evangelists in things called synods, people examining the liturgy, coffee mornings and rotas. None of it touches the outsiders who now have naming ceremonies, civil weddings, and fuss-free cremations. It is over.