Silent discos have been taking place in churches and cathedrals around the UK and Europe, with the aim of encouraging greater interest in religion among younger generations. The Reverend Jessica Fellows, a self-proclaimed Harry Styles fan, has organised events including silent discos, beer and carols, in an attempt to boost the dwindling numbers of congregations. She believes hosting events that encourage visitors to connect with such spaces can help spark interest in religion.
Canterbury Cathedral recently hosted a silent disco that drew 3,000 participants. Nisha Capper, one of the attendees, said she felt that hosting similar events would be great for encouraging more people to attend and visit these types of venues. However, not everyone agrees with this approach. A petition opposing these events at venues including Canterbury Cathedral was signed by almost 2,000 people. The organiser of the petition, Cajetan Skowronski, argued that the events would unlikely motivate young people to become more interested in religion.
In the 2021 census, one-third of individuals under the age of 35 identified as Christian, compared to 50% of those under 35 in 2011. Church of England figures also suggest that there are dwindling congregation numbers. The average weekly attendance in 2022 was 654,000 people, up from 2021 but down from 854,000 people in 2019. This has led churches and cathedrals to attempt to come up with new ways of engaging younger audiences and increasing interest in religion.
The Reverend Michael Darkins has also attempted to use his churches more creatively to get more people interested by putting on concerts and Warhammer game nights. He believes that anything that makes people feel comfortable and welcome in these spaces will have a positive effect. Additionally, Darkins argues that allowing people to engage with the sacredness of the space will reawaken the sense that churches and cathedrals have historically always been community spaces
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More