REVIVAL IN CHURCH-GOING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15714, 4 January 1922, Page 8

REVIVAL IN CHURCH-GOING.

PARTLY DUE TO BROADER. i SPIRIT OF UNITY. LONDON 7 , Dec. 17.—From fur and near comes continuation of. the view, expressed liy Daily Chronicle corrcyponclents, that churches of all denominations arc to-day attracting people .to their services mi over-inaeaaing inunbers. Side by sido with the fact of the growing congregations is noted a new note of earnestness in discussion. Many correspondents emphasise the point made- by the Rev. Dr. Shakespeare, secretary of the- Baptist. Union, who attributed the revival of interest in religion in part to the better feeling between the churches. A notable coiitribuiion to this side ol the discussion is made to-day by the Rev. J. KdWinid Harlow, chairman, of tin; Kent district of. the Wesleyan Methodist Church, who refers, to "the lino spirit of unity and practical, cooperation between church' and chapel." 110 says : "Recent visits to about a dozen Wesleyan congregations representative of Kent have convinced mo of two things: (1) Even where no notable numerical increase has been experienced, the atmosphere is charged, as never before, with a sense of spiritual urgency and expectation ; (2) as between church and chapel a. tine spirit of unity and, practical co-operation is rapidly developing. The Bishop of Willeaden is of the opinion that the revival is a reality, "but not/' he adds, "in the poorer parts of the. town, ill my experience." "A distinct revival is being experienced by certain churches and congregations." 1 see signs of it in the increasing numbers of communicants,, and in the deeper interest taken in -church matters. I have noticed this change as regards my own diocese, particularly in the North-West London districts, in Ilainpstead and Highgate and llomsey. "My opinion is that many people are taking thought and talking of deeper things, because they see I hat without doing so they cannot expect to arrive at any alternative to the present very miserable state of atfairs."