Shropshire Star

Diocese which covers Shropshire is busiest for funeral services

Vicars in the diocese that covers south Shropshire and Powys are the busiest in the country for funerals, new figures have revealed.

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Clergy in the Diocese of Hereford, which also covers parts of Powys, Monmouthshire and Worcestershire, are the busiest in the Church of England when it comes to funerals, with 57 per cent of people who die having a service conducted by them. The national average is 30 per cent.

When it comes to baptisms, 27 per cent of births are welcomed into the church – second only to Carlisle – and regular Sunday worshippers in the diocese are among the highest percentage in the country at 2.4 per cent of the population.

Bishop of Hereford Richard Frith said the congregation figures were good news., but the church could not afford to be complacent as statistics also show that 40 percent of congregations are aged over 70.

He said: "The church is here for the whole of the community and we welcome ideas and engagement from anyone as we seek to respond to the challenges we face."

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