ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to understand and explain the patterns of church growth or decline in the Anglican Church in the contemporary Australian context.
Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation. Australia’s history is first defined by 60,000 years of habitation by indigenous peoples, with their rich expressions of spirituality integrated with understandings of land. All other Australians are essentially recent migrant arrivals, from 1788 onwards. This island nation of 21.5 million people is physically located in Asia, yet primarily influenced by British and other western history and philosophies. Today, Australia is one of the most multicultural and economically prosperous nations in the world and is highly urbanised with nearly 90% living in urban areas.
