RADIO AND RELIGION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19917, 10 April 1928, Page 12

RADIO AND RELIGION.

Sir.—ln your issue of April 9 there is an article on "Radio and Religion." Tho writer, after meking reference to the population strength of the various religious bodies, remarks, "No doubt the disparity between the large and small denominations would be less if regular church attendances could be computed!." These attendances have been computed, as a reference to page 8, volume 15 3 census 1926, will show.' The disparity which the census •of religions shows obtains in approximately similar proportions in the matter of attendances. Under the heading, "Number of persons usually present at largest attended service of day," the figures for the four largest churches are: Church of England, 58,710; Presbyterian, 64,566; Roman Catholic, 55,248; Methodist, 34,329; total, 212,853. The total attendances for all the churches, including Ratana (1720), is 254,199. * The five largest groups, after the first four, return as follows:—Salvation Army, 9594; Baptist, 7399; Brethren, 7361; Congregationai: 3677; Church of Christ, 28.12; all othen total only 10,543. Under the heading, "Number of persons resident in church districts who attend services," the figures are as follows; Church of England, 140,182; Presbvterian, 114j837; Roman Catholic, 91,527-; Methodist, <61.527? Bap--tist, 12,257; Salvation. Army, 11,807"; Brethren, 11,601; Congregational, 312.1; Church of Christ, 3107; all others, 12,429; i total, 462,485. Such figures as these have I a distinct bearing upon the topic, radio I and religion. B