Long church services 'putting people off'

The trend for longer church services is putting people off attending, according to the Bishop of Lichfield.

The Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill believes services today are often twice as long as they used to be and deter young people.

He has now called on churches to reconsider their pattern of services which he says have moved from prayer book Matins towards longer eucharistic services.

The bishop told a Diocesan Synod meeting in Stafford that increased use of eucharists had resulted in longer services that were less simple and inclusive and that lay ministers had become disenfranchised.

"Morning Prayer used to last 50 minutes with a good sermon; family services only 45 minutes. But a sung Eucharist can take anything from an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half. Sometimes I find myself thinking that this is a good way of saying 'go away' to young people who come to visit us."