Figures just released by the Church of England for 2006 show larger congregations at Christmas and Easter, but smaller Sunday congregations.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day attendance increased in 2006 by seven per cent and attendance at Easter by five per cent compared to 2005 in the latest provisional statistics.

Total attendance at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in 2006 was 2,994,100, the highest figure since data were first collected in 2000, when 2,852,000 attended such services.

The number taking Communion increased by four per cent, to 1,258,300, while numbers at Easter services rose by five per cent from 1,417,600 in 2005 to 1,484,700 in 2006.

In contrast, regular Sunday, weekly and monthly attendance each fell by one per cent. The provisional statistics confirm that around 1.7 million people attend Church of England church and cathedral worship each month, while around 1.2 million attend services each week - on Sunday or during the week - and just under one million each Sunday.

The number of children and young people attending at least monthly was virtually unchanged. The latest provisional statistics show 442,000 under-16s attending services at some time in the month: a six percent increase on the 416,000 counted in 2001 when accurate weekly records were first systematically collated.

The figures show signs around the country of more sustained growth beyond special occasions. Half the dioceses saw an increase in one or more measure of their total church attendance levels over 2006, while three-quarters saw an increase in at least one measure of attendance of adults, children and young people or those of all ages.

At the same time, the latest polling by Opinion Research Business found 50 per cent of respondents in England affiliating themselves to the Church of England when asked which religion, if any, they regarded themselves as belonging to. Across Britain, 50 per cent affiliated themselves to the three Anglican Churches (England, Scotland and Wales) and 69 per cent to the Christian faith. Six per cent said they were members of another faith.

Attending church other than for weddings, funerals and baptisms was reported by 52 per cent of respondents, with 23 per cent saying they attended religious services at least once a month. Only 15 per cent said they had not attended a church or place of worship in the last year, with 85 per cent saying they had been to a service, a social event, a concert or performance, been seeking a quiet space or simply felt the need to go in.

Back to Church Sunday continued to grow in 2006, with the last Sunday in September designated as one when churchgoers invite and welcome a friend back to church. It began in 2004, when 160 churches tested the event in the Diocese of Manchester.

In 2007, people in 20 Church of England dioceses welcomed back 20,000 newcomers and returners in one day. This year, even more are expected to adopt Back to Church Sunday into their annual mission strategy.

The Rev Lynda Barley, Head of Research and Statistics for the Archbishops' Council, said: "Despite the one per cent fall in overall attendance, we are seeing a positive spirit of growth developing around the Church with more than half the dioceses seeing aspects of church attendance increasing.

"We are beginning to see clear evidence of churches responding to the spiritual needs and the lifestyles of those they serve but there are aspects of church life that these statistics do not reflect. Dioceses are supporting some 5,000 fresh expressions of church many of which are not included in any of our national figures."