project
Rural isolation and COVID-19: Faith, worship and social contact
15 June 2020 - 15 September 2020
PI/s in Exeter: Professor Matt Lobley
CI/s in Exeter: Dr Caroline Nye
Research partners:
Funding awarded: £2000
Sponsor(s): ARC (Arthur Rank Centre)
About the research
This study examines if and how communities of the Christian
faith transitioned to new forms of engagement and worship during lockdown,
identifying preferred means of engagement and connection and the general
effects of the COVID-19 crisis on Christian faith communities across the
country. It will seek to identify where people sought information from, and
whether beliefs, levels of worship, and connections were affected and in what
way.
The research will aim to understand how the COVID-19
pandemic and the related curtailment to everyday activities might have
affected:
• Individual and community engagement with faith
• How individuals of faith engaged with worship during
lockdown
• The ability of individuals to connect with their
communities during lockdown
The Arthur Rank Centre provides resources for rural Christians and churches, with a specific emphasis on being ‘Together Apart’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research will feed into their current response to the pandemic, to efforts to re-engage people with their faiths, and to prepare for any potentially similar outbreaks in the future.
To view the project report, please click 'download associated document' below.