The Church of England will see the number of traditional clergy drop by 15 per cent in just 20 years unless it dramatically increases ordinations over the next decade, new figures show.
While falling numbers in the pews have attracted headlines in recent years, senior clerics are also concerned about a separate looming decline – in the pulpit.
Bishops fear a fall in the number of priests could make the task of reversing declining congregations by winning new converts more difficult than ever.