Is the Church of Scotland Doomed to Oblivion in the Next Few Years?

It’s another study into a denomination on the brink.

Paul Walker
Backyard Church

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Creative Commons image tweaked in Canva by me.

Sadly, another in the seemingly endless tales of church woe has come to my attention — with a historic denomination dating back to 1560 teetering on the brink of extinction.

The Church of Scotland is grappling with what appears to be a terminal decline in its membership, losing more than half of its members since 2000.

These alarming statistics raise serious concerns about the future of the denomination. Losing half its membership in twenty years means complete extinction can’t be far away without a radical change in the current trajectory.

To make matters even worse, a recent report found that the average age of worship attendees is 62. This further highlights the pressing issue of ageing congregations in the denomination.

We’ll dig deeper into the numbers and what they might mean, but first — to benefit my global readership — I need to “explain” a little background about the Church of Scotland.

What is the Church of Scotland?

The Church of Scotland is a significant religious institution in Scotland, often called “the Kirk.” It holds a unique position as the national…

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Paul Walker
Backyard Church

Spiritual traveler, Prog Rock aficionado, Husband, Dad, Retired Anglican Priest figuring out what ‘retirement’ means.