Geography and Staffing

The Diocese serves a population of 1.981 million.

The Diocese serves an area of 1,744 square-miles.

The Diocese has 290 Benefices, 427 Parishes and 583 Churches.

The Diocese has 294 full time stipendiary parochial clergy.

On average, each member of the clergy serves 6,600 people.

In 2005, the latest year for which statistics are available, churches in the diocese had an average weekly attendance of 39,700; of which 31,800 were on a Sunday.

In 2004, the average weekly attendance was 40,500; in 2003 it was 38,900; in 2002 it was 36,800; and in 2001, which had a much higher than average boost due to "Millennium bounce", it was 41,400.

These average attendance figures do not include Christmas and Easter when attendance is much higher - up to double that in an average week.

In 2004, the Diocese baptised 4,330 infants (under one year old) - over 18 per cent of births (plus 1,870 children and 360 adults).  In addition there were 410 Thanksgivings.

In 2003, the Diocese baptised 4,320 infants (under one year old) - 19 per cent of live births (plus 1,640 children and 380 adults).  In addition there were 380 Thanksgivings.

In 2002, the Diocese baptised 4,400 infants (under one year old) - over 20 per cent of live births (plus 1,760 children and 310 adults).  In addition there were 400 Thanksgivings.

In the Church of England, Confirmation is the service at which people confirm for themselves the promises made for them at baptism and at which they publicly declare themselves to be Christian.

In 2004, 1,399 people were confirmed in 137 services

In 2003, 1,241 people were confirmed in 122 services

In 2002, 1,370 people were confirmed in 116 services

Education

The Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education is the second largest in the Church of England with 206 Church of England Schools.  Of these, 47 are Voluntary Aided; 157 are Voluntary Controlled and two are Foundation Schools.

Some 44,000 children and young people are educated in Church of England schools in the diocese.

There are 196 Primary schools, six Middle schools and four Secondary schools in seven local education authority areas: Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall.

73 schools received Denominational Inspections (statutory inspection of anglican schools) in 2006/07 and 19% were judged “Outstanding”, 60% “Good” and 21% “Satisfactory”. No school was unsatisfactory.

On average, over the period 2003-06, in Key Stage 2 SATs results Church of England schools in the Diocese of Lichfield outperformed all schools in the seven relevant local authority areas by 8% (number of pupils achieving Level 4 (the expected level) in the three main curriculum areas (Literacy, Numeracy, Science)).