Some recent figures appear to confirm their suspicions. They show a drop in the number of Anglican worshippers, the total falling perilously close to that million mark. In contrast, traditionalists, or followers of Radio 3 God, claim that the Church of England is dying of Bad Taste . Happy-clappy songs and trite forms of worship turn people off. So, one lot prefers a church with neatly turned out priests in ornate seasonal sacramental robes.
Congregations sit in heavy oak pews, and glory in feeling subdued and sublime.
There is good music, and scholarly sermons. Another lot prefer pastors who look like Dale Winton, and wander round the congregation with a roving microphone, asking believers about their religious experience of the week. At first sight, the squabble over taste in worship seems about as useful as Third Class passengers arguing with First Class passengers over the colour scheme for the Titanic. Oddly, worship might not be the problem. One of the fundamental tasks of the church is to be an open and engaged community that is relevant, but different as well.