News

As churches across the UK continue to explore how worship can engage new generations and address contemporary social challenges, the Church Resources Exhibition (CRE) will host a thought-provoking panel discussion examining the vital role of worship in shaping faith and community.

The session entitled, "Worship", takes place within the Church Leaders conference on Thursday 15 October from 11:05am to 11:50am and will bring together leading voices from across the Church to discuss how worship can inspire spiritual renewal while addressing issues such as racial justice, reconciliation and social transformation.

This session will feature Dr. Lisa Pal, Head of Racial Justice for the Diocese of London.

Dr. Pal is an international speaker, theologian and founder of Sankofa Collective, an ecumenical movement dedicated to racial justice and reconciliation among Christians. Alongside her role in the Diocese of London, she serves on the board of Churches Together in England and co-chairs its Racial Justice Working Group.

The discussion comes at a significant moment for churches in the UK. Recent Church of England figures show that congregations have experienced five consecutive years of growth, with more than 1 million regular worshippers attending services last year. Average Sunday attendance increased to 590,000, while attendance at Christmas services rose by 5.5% and Easter attendance by 7.8%, suggesting that worship continues to play a central role in connecting people with faith and community.  Source - Church of England website 

The session is expected to be one of the highlights of CRE 2026, offering attendees an opportunity to hear from leaders working at the crossroads of worship and mission, plus to consider how worship can help churches respond to the opportunities and challenges of ministry.