Episode 2

Available for 35 days

Giles Fraser is a vicar in the Church of England concerned about the current state of church attendance. His parish is doing well but like most priests, he's nervous about the numbers and notes the overall decline in worship. He considers the poem 'Church Going' by Philip Larkin as his starting point. It imagines what will happen to these buildings, and to Christian faith, when we stop going to church entirely. Is Giles now a missionary in a world that is indifferent to what he has to say? With this thought, he sets off to work out where we are, talking to people on the ground and experts in the field. In this second episode of three, he explores the idea of England as a Christian country, talking to historians Tom Holland and William Whyte and archaeologist and Humanist, Alice Roberts. He looks at anxieties over the growth of Islam and the rise of Christian Nationalism in this country attending a secret outdoor baptism organised by the man who converted Tommy Robinson to Christianity. He also speaks to Bishop Arun Arora, Professor Emerita Grace Davie, Pastor Rikki Doolan, Revd Canon Dr Christian Selvaratnam, Nick Spencer from Theos, Professor Linda Woodhead and journalist, Tim Wyatt. Presenter: Rev Dr Giles Fraser Producer: Catherine Murray Asst Producer: Peter Everett Studio mix: Liam Juniper Editor: Tim Pemberton