According to some polls, church attendance in England has halved since 1980, from the already low figure of 11 percent of the population (though this year the Church of England report that their attendance figures are "stabilizing"). Yet, while Anglican clerics preach to handfuls of aging regulars, the "practicing" atheists attracted a first gathering of 100, which doubled within a month. Now 300 attend regularly - and sometimes more.
A little press coverage and the magic of social media has seen new branches opening in at least 14 cities in the U.K. and Ireland. As the word crossed the pond, groups all over North America began to form. The North American "Road Show" will hold Sunday Assemblies in such cities as New York; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Nashville; Chicago; San Francisco; Los Angeles; and Vancouver, before touring five cities in Australia. More than 800 people have already signed up for the L.A. event.
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