How we worship has always been shaped by the way we live and the way we travel. The agricultural economies of the middle ages created the parish church, in which most people travelled to worship on foot.
The industrial revolution moved people to the city and saw the rise of public transport, this created urban churches, in which large congregations grew in high density cities, where people could either walk or catch public transport to church. Many of these churches began to suffer as the age of cheap oil and the rise of the motor car saw people leave cities for the suburbs. These factors created larger suburban churches and also influenced the church growth movement. Because people were more mobile, churches were able to attract worshippers from adjacent suburbs who were happy to travel in order to suit their worshipping wants.
In the last 30 years, cheap oil and growing cities have created what urban planners call exurbs. Exurbs are basically suburbs on the outer fringe of cities, beyond the established suburbs. They tend to be favoured by people who are happy to drive long distances to work, with the pay off of being able to buy large homes. Exurbs have seen the rise of mega-churches and mutli-campus style churches. In which people are happy to drive large distances to attend these churches.
In the last 48 hours world oil prices are hitting record highs, an intriguing question is how this will affect churches? As most experts are agreeing that we heading into a peroid of high oil prices, how will this affect how we worship? My guess is that it will not end the larger church, mega churches that are within walking distance from good public transport should be in good shape. Although I do fear for mega churches who have bought land far away from public transport, as the cost of driving long or even medium distances to church several times a week will become more unaffordable for many.
We could see the rebirth and reinvention of the local church, with people looking to find a church to which they can walk to, house churches and churches in third places such as cafes, and public spaces should continue to grow.
