What Churches May Have to Learn from an Ageing Population

ABSTRACT

The present study seeks to gather evidence to help churches decide whether they need to reassess the value of older people in church life and whether their spiritual needs are being met. A qualitative survey comprising 11 open-ended questions was distributed to a sample of older churchgoers aged sixty and over. Narratives provided by 48 participants revealed five overarching themes: valuing older people in churches; the central importance of meaningful relationships; nurturing the desire to explore issues of faith; contribution of churches to countering loneliness and marginalisation; and participating in ministry and mission by those in their later years. Concluding comments are offered in the light of a community-based initiative developed by Christians working ecumenically in Alton, a market town in a rural part of Hampshire. This important initiative, which has already spread beyond Alton, promotes the spiritual welfare of older people and draws attention to the contribution older people make both to Church and society.

KEYWORDS:

• Ageism
• spiritual needs
• faith stories
• spiritual community
• meaning and purpose in life
• loneliness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Paul Rolph is a Research Fellow at Glyndŵr University. Address for correspondence: 71 Andover Road, Winchester, SO22 6 AU, UK. Email: [email protected].

Jenny Rolph is a Research Fellow at Glyndŵr University. Address for correspondence: 71 Andover Road, Winchester, SO22 6 AU, UK. Email: [email protected].

The Reverend John Cole served as National Adviser (Unity-in-Mission) for the Church of England between 2003 and 2008. Address for correspondence: 5 Markham Way, Wrawby, Brigg, DN20 8TE, UK. Email: [email protected].

The Reverend Dr Albert Jewell is a Visiting Research Fellow at Glyndŵr University. Address for correspondence: 63 Moor Grange View, Leeds, LS16 5BH, UK. Email: [email protected].

ORCID

Albert Jewell http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2898-967X