Calvary Episcopal Church recently conducted a survey of its members, ages 12 and above.
I. Personal Demographics and Relationship to the Parish
There were 72 responses to this section of the survey. Some members chose not to
answer certain questions.
58% of our respondents are ages 56 and above. (25% are ages 56-65, 14% are ages
66-75, and 19% are ages 75 and older.) 21 % of our respondents are ages 46-55, 4%
are aged 36-45, and 10% are ages 25-35. 3% of our respondents are ages 18-25 and
4% of our respondents are ages 12-17.
57% of the respondents are female and 43% are male.
Most respondents, 63% are married, 18% are widowed, 6% are divorced and 14% are
single.
53 households were represented in the survey. There is an average of 2.2 people
per household. 36 households have no children in the home. There are 34
children ages 0-22+ living in the other households of the parish.
Calvary had 17 respondents or 24% with graduate degrees, 18% with bachelors
degrees, 33% with post high school classes or training, 19% high school graduates
and 6% in grades 7-12.
73% of the respondents have attended Calvary for 11 or more years. 7% of the
members have attended for 6-10 years, 14% for 1-5 years, and 6% less than one year.
Most of our respondents, 54%, live between 1-5 miles of the church. 28% live more
than 5 miles and 18% live less than 1 mile from the church.
Most respondents initially came to Calvary Church because of family or a friend,
because of the priest, and because of the style of worship. Respondents stay at
this parish because of the style of worship, because of family or a friend, because
of the priest, and fellowship.
28 of 67 respondents, or 42%, attend services about once a month or less. 27% of
the respondents attend services, other functions, and serve on several programs.
The main worship service is Sunday, 10 AM, with 47 of 70 respondents, or 67%,
attending. 29% attend at 8 AM on Sunday and 4 % attend on Wednesday at 10 AM.
In a typical week, 27 respondents give a total of 118.5 hours to the church outside
of Sunday services. This averages to 1.8 hours per respondent, although times
given ranged from .5 to 20 hours per week. 40 respondents stated that they gave 0
hours to the church.
32% of our respondents, or 22 out of 69, have always attended Calvary Church. 33%
have always been Episcopalian and transferred here. 14 % of our respondents
were once Roman Catholic, 12% mainline protestant, and 6% other religions.
II. The Perceived Current Status of our Parish
There were 75 responses to this section. Of those responses, there were from 3 to 23
people who chose not to answer certain questions.
The top 10 things which our respondents are most satisfied are:
1 – The worship service – overall quality
2 – Fellowship – events
3 – Fellowship – sense of community
4 – Pastoral care – elderly, sick, etc.
5 – Communications – print
6 – Coffee hours
7 – Music program – overall quality
8 – Stewardship – using our talents
9 – Community presence – outreach, etc.
10 – Communications – electronic
III. The Suggested Future Emphasis for Our Parish
There were 65 responses to this section. 10 members chose not to rank these items.
The top 10 things which our respondents would like to see emphasized in the
future are:
1 – The worship service – overall quality
2 – Pastoral care – elderly, sick, etc.
3 – Youth education
4 – Newcomers – seeking, welcoming, incorporating
5 – Music program
6 – Fellowship – sense of community
7 – Communications – print
8 – Community presence – outreach, etc.
9 – Fellowship events
10 – Spiritual development
IV. The Importance of the Future Ministry of Our Parish
There were 72 responses to this section. From 0-5 respondents chose not to rank
certain areas.
In order of importance:
Continuing to minister to Fair Acres
Continuing to provide Rite II
Continuing to minister to Rose Hill
Continuing to provide Rite I
Continuing to provide Wednesday, 10 AM
Having more variety in the music program
Having more variety in the worship service
Having a Saturday worship service
V. Pastoral Specialties
There were 68 responses to this section. 7 respondents chose not to rank these items.
The top 5 pastoral specialties desired were:
1 – Preacher
2 – Teacher
3 – Crisis Minister
4 – Pastor
5 tied – Theologian
5 tied – Youth Worker / Leader
VI. Characteristics of a Good Rector
There were 75 pages returned. There were 57 responses to this section. 18
respondents chose not to rank these items.
The top 5 characteristics of a good rector were:
1 – Has a positive personality
2 – Is welcoming
3 – Regards the Bible as interpretation
4 – Sermons emphasize biblical text
5 – Is accessible
VII. Personal Narrative Comments
The survey asked which two things the members thought our parish did the best.
There were 73 pages returned. 23 respondents chose not to answer this question.
The top three responses were:
We are a church with a comforting, welcoming, family atmosphere. (This was the
overwhelming response.)
We have a good worship service.
We like food and fellowship.
The survey asked which two things the members thought needed improvement in our
parish.
There were 73 pages returned. 23 respondents chose not to answer this question.
The top three responses were:
We need to improve attracting, incorporating, and retaining new members.
We need to attract more youth and provide more youth ministries and activities.
We need to have all parish members involved and supporting of all Church
functions.
The survey asked what the member's one wish was for the future of Calvary Church.
There were 73 pages returned. 23 respondents chose not to answer this question.
The top three responses were:
It was wished that our congregation continue to survive, grow and flourish. (This
was the overwhelming response.)
It was wished that we attract more families and youth.
It was wished that Calvary Church would further serve the community and become
more of a presence.
I. Personal Demographics and Relationship to the Parish
There were 72 responses to this section of the survey. Some members chose not to
answer certain questions.
58% of our respondents are ages 56 and above. (25% are ages 56-65, 14% are ages
66-75, and 19% are ages 75 and older.) 21 % of our respondents are ages 46-55, 4%
are aged 36-45, and 10% are ages 25-35. 3% of our respondents are ages 18-25 and
4% of our respondents are ages 12-17.
57% of the respondents are female and 43% are male.
Most respondents, 63% are married, 18% are widowed, 6% are divorced and 14% are
single.
53 households were represented in the survey. There is an average of 2.2 people
per household. 36 households have no children in the home. There are 34
children ages 0-22+ living in the other households of the parish.
Calvary had 17 respondents or 24% with graduate degrees, 18% with bachelors
degrees, 33% with post high school classes or training, 19% high school graduates
and 6% in grades 7-12.
73% of the respondents have attended Calvary for 11 or more years. 7% of the
members have attended for 6-10 years, 14% for 1-5 years, and 6% less than one year.
Most of our respondents, 54%, live between 1-5 miles of the church. 28% live more
than 5 miles and 18% live less than 1 mile from the church.
Most respondents initially came to Calvary Church because of family or a friend,
because of the priest, and because of the style of worship. Respondents stay at
this parish because of the style of worship, because of family or a friend, because
of the priest, and fellowship.
28 of 67 respondents, or 42%, attend services about once a month or less. 27% of
the respondents attend services, other functions, and serve on several programs.
The main worship service is Sunday, 10 AM, with 47 of 70 respondents, or 67%,
attending. 29% attend at 8 AM on Sunday and 4 % attend on Wednesday at 10 AM.
In a typical week, 27 respondents give a total of 118.5 hours to the church outside
of Sunday services. This averages to 1.8 hours per respondent, although times
given ranged from .5 to 20 hours per week. 40 respondents stated that they gave 0
hours to the church.
32% of our respondents, or 22 out of 69, have always attended Calvary Church. 33%
have always been Episcopalian and transferred here. 14 % of our respondents
were once Roman Catholic, 12% mainline protestant, and 6% other religions.
II. The Perceived Current Status of our Parish
There were 75 responses to this section. Of those responses, there were from 3 to 23
people who chose not to answer certain questions.
The top 10 things which our respondents are most satisfied are:
1 – The worship service – overall quality
2 – Fellowship – events
3 – Fellowship – sense of community
4 – Pastoral care – elderly, sick, etc.
5 – Communications – print
6 – Coffee hours
7 – Music program – overall quality
8 – Stewardship – using our talents
9 – Community presence – outreach, etc.
10 – Communications – electronic
III. The Suggested Future Emphasis for Our Parish
There were 65 responses to this section. 10 members chose not to rank these items.
The top 10 things which our respondents would like to see emphasized in the
future are:
1 – The worship service – overall quality
2 – Pastoral care – elderly, sick, etc.
3 – Youth education
4 – Newcomers – seeking, welcoming, incorporating
5 – Music program
6 – Fellowship – sense of community
7 – Communications – print
8 – Community presence – outreach, etc.
9 – Fellowship events
10 – Spiritual development
IV. The Importance of the Future Ministry of Our Parish
There were 72 responses to this section. From 0-5 respondents chose not to rank
certain areas.
In order of importance:
Continuing to minister to Fair Acres
Continuing to provide Rite II
Continuing to minister to Rose Hill
Continuing to provide Rite I
Continuing to provide Wednesday, 10 AM
Having more variety in the music program
Having more variety in the worship service
Having a Saturday worship service
V. Pastoral Specialties
There were 68 responses to this section. 7 respondents chose not to rank these items.
The top 5 pastoral specialties desired were:
1 – Preacher
2 – Teacher
3 – Crisis Minister
4 – Pastor
5 tied – Theologian
5 tied – Youth Worker / Leader
VI. Characteristics of a Good Rector
There were 75 pages returned. There were 57 responses to this section. 18
respondents chose not to rank these items.
The top 5 characteristics of a good rector were:
1 – Has a positive personality
2 – Is welcoming
3 – Regards the Bible as interpretation
4 – Sermons emphasize biblical text
5 – Is accessible
VII. Personal Narrative Comments
The survey asked which two things the members thought our parish did the best.
There were 73 pages returned. 23 respondents chose not to answer this question.
The top three responses were:
We are a church with a comforting, welcoming, family atmosphere. (This was the
overwhelming response.)
We have a good worship service.
We like food and fellowship.
The survey asked which two things the members thought needed improvement in our
parish.
There were 73 pages returned. 23 respondents chose not to answer this question.
The top three responses were:
We need to improve attracting, incorporating, and retaining new members.
We need to attract more youth and provide more youth ministries and activities.
We need to have all parish members involved and supporting of all Church
functions.
The survey asked what the member's one wish was for the future of Calvary Church.
There were 73 pages returned. 23 respondents chose not to answer this question.
The top three responses were:
It was wished that our congregation continue to survive, grow and flourish. (This
was the overwhelming response.)
It was wished that we attract more families and youth.
It was wished that Calvary Church would further serve the community and become
more of a presence.
| To contact us: frbobg@comcast.net Calvary Episcopal Church 667 Mount Road Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 OFFICE 610-358-3571 RECTORY |
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| Parish Survey Results Summary |
| 667 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 |
| Small Parish - Big Heart - Inclusive Come and worship with us! All are welcome! |
| Our Mission: To worship the Lord To serve the community To grow the church |