CAMBRIDGE, England (AP) - It's Sunday in England, and across the country many traditional stone churches are struggling to fill their pews.
But not C3, the Cambridge Community Church, one of the country's many evangelical groups. Its mostly white, middle-class congregants crowd a rented school auditorium with their arms outstretched to the heavens and their hands fervently clapping to evangelical sermons.
"I don't need an old church with stained glass windows where a few people show up out of obligation, not inspiration," said Ruth Chandler, a former member of the Church of England.
In England's last census, 72 percent of people identified themselves as Christian. Many are Anglicans affiliated with the Church of England, which was created by royal proclamation during the 16th century after King Henry VIII — who married six times — broke ties with the Roman Catholic Church in a dispute over divorce.
But the Church of England has said that less than 10 percent of its members are regular churchgoers. By contrast, evangelicals make up about 40 percent of all the nation's regular churchgoers, according to Peter Brierely, head of Christian Research, a London-based think tank.
Among the thriving conservative Christian churches in London are rich, mostly white Anglican congregations in the evangelical wing of the denomination — including Holy Trinity in Knightsbridge. Years ago, the parish developed an outreach course for newcomers called Alpha, which explains the basics of Christianity, that has been so successful it is now used for evangelism worldwide.
Another is the independent Kingsway International Christian Center, a predominantly black congregation. Its rousing services often fill a 4,000-seat auditorium built inside an old factory in a bleak industrial area. More evangelical churches can be found across the country, from small rural villages to university towns such as Cambridge.
Part of the evangelical growth is due to immigration.
Since 2001, Africa has supplied the single largest pool of new British citizens. Nearly a third of the 160,000 immigrants granted British citizenship in 2005 came from the continent, according to official statistics. Many of the new arrivals bring with them the spirit-filled Pentecostal worship style that has drawn millions of Africans to Christian churches across the continent in the last several decades.
Evangelical churches — both black and white — also intensely evangelize in a way that other British Christians don't.
Some run inspirational radio and TV stations. At worship, the inspirational services are filled with popular-style music and videos aimed at the younger generation.
In a country famous for its reserve and self-effacement, it's a sight to see at churches such as C3. Each service includes a rock 'n' roll band, a dancing and singing choir, a DVD screen with inspirational videos, and short, lively sermons by a husband and wife team of pastors. A separate service is held for children in a "kid zone."
The strong evangelical presence became apparent during the recent debate over a new law in Britain on gay rights.
Without a debate, the House of Commons passed the Equality Act Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007 (SORs), which require full equality for gay men and lesbians and outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Christians fiercely opposed the law, saying it would require their adoption agencies to accept applications from gay couples, make it illegal for Christian hoteliers to turn away gays, and force religious schools to hire gays. Continue >>
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