VICARS in Farnworth, Lancashire are keeping registers of family attendance at church before recommending children for places at Anglican secondary schools.
Parish priests are finding it increasingly difficult to keep track of their congregations as most vicars are now in charge of more than one church.
Church of England schools in the area are still willing to accept a vicar’s letter, but the Rev Paul Gully, of New Bury team ministry, said: “I don’t see people every week and I want to be fair.
“There is one church where I only take the service once every two months, so I might miss seeing a regular attender. The records are there to help us and are not required by the schools.
“It also helps when a vicar is new. Parents might say, ‘we came four times a month for years when your predecessor was here’,” said Mr Gully. “There are parents who are so keen to get their child into a school they will try all sorts.”
Bury CofE high school’s admission policy states: “Governors will ask clergy to verify all applications in respect of the church membership, attendance and involvement of children and parents.”
Mr Gully, who is a foundation governor, said: “That would probably mean attendance three or four times a month.”
At St James’s CofE secondary in Bolton, admission is on a points system, for which church attendance is only one factor. Other point earners are attendance at an Anglican primary and parents’ participation in school and community activities, such as running a football team.
“Not every school is the same. And the idea that they are all stitched up for children who go to church is wrong.”
Parents go to all sorts of lengths to get their children into church schools including discovering an enthusiasm for bell ringing or joining the choir.
Mr Gully said: “In schools where competition for places is high they are likely to be stricter about church attendance. If applications are down it is likely to be less of an issue.”
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