More than 400 churches have been shut down in less than a decade, The Telegraph can reveal, as senior clergy warn of the “shocking” threat to parishes as “the bedrock of the Church of England”.

Analysis of Church of England data by this newspaper found that 423 churches were closed between 2010 and 2019.

The figure signifies the downward trend regarding the number of churches in the country. Further analysis reveals that almost 1,000 have been forced to close in just over 30 years – 940 between 1987 and 2019. This means that the total number of churches left stands at around 15,496.

It marks the first comprehensive analysis of church numbers because the Church’s official data contained in its annual reports only cover individual years. Furthermore, the research does not take into account the impact of the pandemic, and as a result, clergy and lay people fear the total figure could be much higher.

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark Cathedral, who is one of the most senior Anglican priests, called the rate of increase in the number of church closures “shocking”.  

“I share the concern of many people that the policies that lead to the closure of churches may also mean that we will be seeing more and more changes to the parish system, which is, after all, the bedrock of the life of the Church of England for England.”  

Across the Church’s 42 dioceses, there are on average almost six per cent fewer churches, with the total falling from 16,436 in 1987 to 15,496 in 2019.

The Church of England defines a ‘church’ as “a building which is licensed as a place of worship within the parish system”. This can include former mission halls and less permanent buildings.