According to the latest National Church Life Survey (NCLS) findings, more and more young people are attracted to contemporary-style Evangelical and Pentecostal church services, while traditional churches are suffering a decline in membership.

Weekly attendance estimates from NCLS shows a 7% decline from 1996 to 2001. This is partly a result of the Catholic Church, which accounts for 50% of church-goers, losing 13% of its attendees.

Although mainstream denominations (Anglican, Lutheran, Uniting and Presbyterian) also experience a decline, it is offset by increases in Evangelical and Pentecostal denominations, resulting in a 1% overall increase for Protestant churches.

An exception to the trend was the evangelical Sydney Diocese, which had a 9% increase during the same period, similar to the national Baptist figure.

Dr John Bellamy, an Anglicare researcher working on the NCLS says that the older age profiles of most mainstream denominations means that older people are not being replaced in the same numbers by younger attendees. Growth occurs where denominations are effective in attracting newcomers to church life, while at the same time successfully working to retain teenagers and young adults.

Commenting on the 6.5% growth in Sydney population, Dr Bellamy said population growth in Sydney, has not been a traditional source of growth for Anglican churches.