Results of questionnaire
1. 1 had attended for less than one year
9 between 1 and 5 years
10 between 5 and 15 years
19 for more than 15 years
[ 4 of the 39 were members of the PCC ]
2. 0 was under 20
3 were between 21 and 40
9 between 41 and 60
27 over 60
3. 1 child was under 5
1 between 5 and 11
4. 1 attended occasionally
1 monthly
15 twice monthly
22 weekly
5. 12 attended at 8.00 am
6 9.15 am
16 11.00 am
16 6.30 pm
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8.00
Positive
Return to 1662 Readings (x3)
Negative
None
9.15
Positive
Welcome introduction (x5)
Meaningful because of its simplicity (x2)
Negative
None
11.00
Positive
Sunday School as part of service (x4)
Easier to follow (x3)
The Peace
New organist
No more chanting of psalms (x2)
Service sheets
Sermon preached from chancel steps
Baptisms as an integral part of services
Negative
Elimination of Matins with its special stress on OT & NT
Removal of monthly Sung Eucharist
Loss of BCP and replacement by frequently sub-literate CW
New language in Creed, Lord’s Prayer, new hymns (x10)
Chanting of psalms & canticles (x3)
Service often different from that advertised
Making things ‘accessible’ makes them sometimes ‘meaningless’
Content of some services very thin
Some new hymns are almost melody- or content-free
Division of congregation into traditionalist & modernist
New services more like a social gathering
New service (though better than others elsewhere) does not fully prepare one for taking the Sacrament
Morning Worship seems to lack form
No longer attend or attend less frequently (x6)
6.30
Positive
Now used to new format after disapproving at first
Choral Evensong (x3)
Sung Eucharist (x4)
BCP Evensong still a delight
Negative
Sung Eucharist (x2)
Things missed
Traditional 1662 format (x9)
Traditional hymns (x3)
Lord’s Prayer & Creed (x9)
The choir
Chanting of psalms & canticles
Matins (x7)
Careful leading of Evensong (x3)
Rarity of hearing the Gospel & Collects for each Sunday
The Gloria
The Intercession ‘Let us pray for the whole state . . .’
O Lamb of God
Change of Wakes Service from an Evensong service
Things not missed
Long sermons
Chanting of psalms (x2)
The Benedicite
Family Communion à la CW
Changes more likely to help ministry
Yes - 6
No - 5 (especially to 1662 people: Astbury no longer special & distinctive)
Don’t know - 3
1662 now confined to 8 & 6.30, not the main service.
Lost congregation not (yet) offset by new faces (x2)
Distinctions are pernicious with their tacit assumption that the three are separate and unreconcilable (x2)
Reasons for attendance at St Mary’s -
Rector (x7)
Curate (x3)
Good sermon (x3)
Friendly people (x10)
Decent hymns (x2)
Lovely building (x5)
Atmosphere of spirituality (x7)
8.00 am HC (x5)
Choral Evensong (x3)
Evensong (x1)
Enjoy singing in the choir (x4)
Local church (x8)
Children attended JC and were married here (x3)
Traditional services (x4)
Main connection with God outside the daily grind
Other comments -
Could an earlier Sunday service be held using the new format?
Service on Sunday afternoon or weekday evening?
Mattins on 5th Sundays?
Good, thought-provoking sermons appreciated
Discussion of changes at Annual Parish Meeting?
Dislike of questionnaires
Only readers who understand the texts should be used
Dislike of ‘prayers’ followed by pauses of indeterminate length
Try to blend Tradition with Modernity
Junior Church improving all the time
Concern for younger generation being given CW and not introduced to BCP & AV at main service
Concern about declining numbers at 11.00 am & 6.30 pm
Words of service less important than what is in our hearts and how we behave to others
Why in one of the new Creeds do I believe but in the other it is We?