Vicar who claimed "church is under threat" from bike lane now blames cycle route for congregation "getting lost" and plummeting attendance

Or the congregation reads the news and does not like all the stories about ignored abuse by senior members of the church.

This is very embarrassing for the church, it suggests the congregation cannot organise lifts for their less able bodied fellow attendees and that those who do drive are unable to negotiate a simple diversion.

It also suggests that 40% of the congregation has so little commitment to their faith that a minor diversion prevents them from going to church.

As others have said, the crossing was installed to enable students from the local schools cross the very busy A56 safely, prompted by a petition submitted by one of the students.

Oh God.

Is this the flucking Telegrunt, again?

I'm going to have to ask WRGM, aren't I?

Christians huh? 

Edited: To comment on the Christian immigrants not respecting the pagan natives...

This is fake outrage promoted by the local Tories, particularly Nathan Evans.  Who's married to Laura Evans, the twice-failed Tory GM Mayoral candidate who has been repeatedly trounced in all the recent elections she's stood in (including the previous general election).

The fact is, the scheme was prompted by a schoolgirl's petition to council, the council were very impressed by her presentation, highways designed the scheme, TFGM funded it, and it's a very useful walking/cycling crossing.  It also makes it easier for motorists to join the A56 southbound because now they have lights, where previously they had nothing.

Finally, that church is selling contract parking in the area, advertised in local press.  The whole thing stinks and they are not promoting christian values.

Let us pray 🙏

I think he should look for guidance in the good book (as should we all).

Hmm... will there will be "more rejoicing over one cyclist who repents than over ninety-nine righteously angry persons who need no repentance"?

It's good on congestion/induced demand though: "Enter through the narrow bus gate street. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter."

Perhaps they should be praying to the council for more facilities for mobility vehicles (and wishing on a prayer that the goverment will take a look at reclassifying these)?

Church attendance declining? Christ on a bike!

People getting lost? I've just Streetview navigated from the POV of a driver. It's literally turn left three times, or turn right three times, depending on which direction you're coming from when you realise that Gorsey Lane is now one way.

Christianity has always looked down on those who pedal the word of God.

Thoughts from a regular church-goer and cyclist:

It's hard to see what congestion at school pick-up and drop-off times has to do with church attendance - or indeed concert tickets sales, given that concerts generally take place in evenings, lunchtimes or weekends - in fact I can't think of ever having seen a church concert or a church service that took place at school pick-up or drop-off times.

An "extra half-mile" drive to a car park would take all of 90 seconds longer at 20mph. Call me a cynic, but I don't believe that is realistically going to prompt a 40% drop in attendance either.

There are all kinds of factors that may contribute to falling church attendance. Aside from the main and most obvious factor in a predominantly elderly congregation (illness and death), there has been a decline in attendance overall across the board - and there are many other factors to consider than the addition of 90 seconds to the journey time. Dare I say it, confidence in leadership of a church is among the most common factors behind a precipitous decline.

Also, constantly popping up to declare how dangerous and difficult it is to get to your church, rather than promoting the relative lack of impact on access may serve well to discourage potential new attendees in addition to put off the existing ones.

It's notable that the minister also all but discounts entirely the possibility of attracting non-elderly members - I wonder what provision there is for access by foot or by two wheelers? Are there safe bike parking facilities? If the church is now on an integral part of the cycling infrastructure of the city, have they considered e.g. running a cycle-stop cafe? Installing a public bike tool point? Looking at improving access to the church from the car park?

If people are stopping on the road in order to get to the "front door" in preference to using the car park, then perhaps a reserved "drop-off point" at the nearest access from the car park to the church could improve things for everyone - alongside possibly an additional or new entranceway?

If people are getting lost, then do a map handout, put a route on your website, send a map via email to the congregation (old people do use email !)

St Margaret's Church in Altrincham, sponsored by the Daily Telegraph.

Thoughts and prayers.

Basically, his parishioners are so lazy, they can not be asked to take the very simple, 5 minute diversion, via Booth road!

I like the argument of how busy the road is at school pick up and drop off times. He should maybe consider moving his services to a Sunday?

Isn't it more that his church faces extinction due to an elderly and aging congregation ? There must be some sort of community bus they could set up, if these people are unable to use public transport or to drive a slightly more complex route?

The lead photo clearly shows why a cycle lane was needed with cars dropping off and obstructing the path and road creating a risk for pedestrians and cyclists. 

On Google maps you can see that the church has a car park and is encircled by a road so people can still be dropped at the door, it's just they don't want to share the public road.

It now fails to surprise me how unchristian some christians are.

The vicar obviously feels hard done by but he should console himself with the upside.  He now has to share a room with only sixty delusional individuals rather than a hundred.