In Churches Too

We surveyed churchgoers and church leaders in Cumbria, Northwest England, asking questions about their experience of domestic abuse, how often topics to do with domestic abuse were mentioned in their churches, and how well-equipped they felt their churches were in responding to domestic abuse.

Key Findings

1 in 4 respondents had experienced domestic abuse in a current relationship, but only around 2 in 7 considered their church to adequately equipped to deal with a disclosure of domestic abuse.

Prevalence for each category of abuse (for example physical, sexual, financial and others) were higher for women than men. Women typically reported experiencing a higher number of impacts of domestic abuse than men ('impacts' include things like diminished self-esteem, feeling anxious or scared, stopping attending church).

Less than half of those who responded to the survey (42.9%) said they would seek help from their church for domestic abuse. Just under 60% said they would signpost a friend to church for help. Over half were not aware of domestic abuse being spoken about in a sermon, or posters or leaflets about domestic abuse being displayed. However, more than half said that prayers for people experiencing domestic abuse were said in their church 'sometimes' or 'regularly'.