Only “ruthless” reforms, the authors contend, can stem a deepening crisis characterised by falling attendance, shrinking donations and declining ordinations.
The Church set a target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, committing £190m to eco-friendly upgrades for churches and vicarages.
It has since conceded it will not meet this deadline, with critics arguing the policy has left parishioners shivering in cold buildings and deterred attendance by restricting the installation of new oil or gas boilers.
Project Spire, meanwhile, faces a High Court challenge brought by the Rev Jamie Franklin, rector of Holy Trinity in Winchester, and Bijan Omrani, churchwarden at St Michael’s in Shute, Devon.
