CHRISTIANS in the Tavistock area will be taking part in a national survey this weekend, which aims to give a true picture of the Church in England in the 21st century.
Worshippers at Tavistock Parish Church and Whitchurch Methodist Church have been invited to take part in the Church Life Profile this Sunday, believed to be one of the largest surveys ever undertaken in England.
Prebendary John Rawlings, Vicar of Tavistock, said he hoped as many members of the congregation as possible would take part in the survey this Sunday morning.
Mr Rawlings said instead of a sermon, time would be given to complete the questionnaires.
And the Rev Valerie Honey will be giving a shorter sermon at the Sunday afternoon Whitchurch Methodist Church service, followed by tea and biscuits and time to complete the survey forms.
Alison Gelder, chief executive of the Churches Information for Mission, said: 'The profile is much more than a survey or a piece of academic research. Its aim is to offer practical, mission-focussed help to local churches.
'At a national level we will at last have data to flesh out theories about changes in the frequency of church attendance and the contribution churches make to their communities.'
The survey, conducted with strict confidentiality, will cover areas as diverse as evangelism, preferred styles of worship, frequency of church attendance, nature of belief, social action and politics.
Results of the profile will be released nationally in November, to coincide with the General Synod of the Church of England in London and Assembly of Evangelicals in Cardiff.
Tavistock and Whitchurch churches will receive a detailed, localised version early next year.