The Church of England will this week vow to fight "new atheism" in an attempt to combat the rise of secularism and defend Christianity in Britain.
It predicts "the next five years are set to be a period of exceptional challenge for the nation and the Church of England."
In particular, it points to the fallout from the economic crisis, shrinking and ageing congregations and the retirement of 40 per cent of its paid clergy in the next decade.
I think the last point is the most valid of all...as congregations get older less and less young people are following <choice of thesim>.
It appears that the Church of England is taking notice.