As COVID deaths shot up, Episcopal burials dropped
By Mary Ann Mueller
VOL Special Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org
August 30, 2023
A funny thing happened as a result of COVID. The result is that the 2020 and 2021 Episcopal Church statistics have been skewed particularly for the number of church burials which were conducted.
VirtueOnline has done a deep dive into the COVID-era statistics and found that, in particular, the percentage of church funerals and statistical death rates do not track. Deaths increased, fueled in large part by the COVID pandemic, yet the number of Episcopal Church funerals decreased from 2019 — the final preceding pre-COVID year.
By 2022 the nation, and The Episcopal Church, was starting to emerge from COVID lockdowns. However, as of yet, the Episcopal Church has not released its final 2022 statistics. Those figures are not expected to be released until later this fall. TEC’s 2021 statistics were released Thanksgiving week in 2022. It is not until the 2022 statistics are finally released that l the Episcopal Church’s full COVID picture will be revealed.
COVID hit with a vengeance in early 2020. By the middle of March, which was the third week of Lent, the entire nation, and most of the world, came to a grinding halt in a failed attempt to bring a screeching halt to the quickly spreading COVID virus.
On March 12, 2020, during a virtual House of Bishops’ meeting, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said that he would lend his support to the cancellation of all Episcopal Church public worship services to help slow the spread of the virus.
But even before the Presiding Bishop’s statement the bishops in Virginia, California and the District of Columbia were already closing their churches. On March 11, 2020 bishops Mariann Budde (IX Washington, DC); Susan Groff (Virginia suffragan); and Marc Andrus (VIII California) had announced that all in-person services would be verboten within their respective dioceses.
In quick order the Episcopal dioceses of Southern Virginia, Easton, Fort Worth, West Virginia, Rhode Island, North Carolina, West Missouri, Lexington, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Michigan, and Northern Michigan followed suit. Then Episcopal dioceses started cancelling church services all across the country. Churches were shuttered. Some Internet savvy priests were able to do online services from their rectory or the empty church, but many priests were caught up short by the swiftness of their bishop’s actions.
As a result of bishops’ actions, the Episcopal Church had to become creative in the way it counted its members who were no longer permitted to attend church services on any given Sunday.
It implemented a plan to create “guestimated” church attendance numbers for its 2020 Parochial Report. Episcopal parishes were asked to count noses on the four Sundays in January and February and the first Sunday of March — nine in all. Add up the figures, then divide by nine and send the results into the diocese to come up with a reasonable Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) figure for empty churches.
The powers that be in the Episcopal Church also shifted from only counting the attendance at Sunday services to adding participation in all regularly scheduled services including the midweek Eucharist, Advent services, Lenten services, the bishop’s visit and confirmation to come up with a new designation — the Average Weekly Attendance (AWA).
During the height of COVID Easter was cancelled. Other church services and religious events were cancelled. The churches were locked tight. Then Christmas was cancelled. Elective religious celebrations were postponed until a later time. There were no baptisms. There were no confirmations. There were no weddings. Funerals were cutback.
But the reality is when a death happens, for the most part, burials cannot be put off for another time. A death in the family creates an immediate spiritual need — the need to reach out to God, the need to grieve, the need for closure, the need to bury their beloved one.
However, during the COVID years there were very few recorded Episcopal funerals even as the COVID death rate rose. But the increased community death spike was not reflected in TEC’s funeral numbers.
This is due to the fact that various states mandated, and dioceses readily complied, that church services be curtailed for fear of spreading the airborne disease.
However, Episcopalians died during COVID. So did Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Jews, Methodists, as well as “nones” and nuns. COVID was not a respecter of persons nor denominational affiliation.
If there was a gathering for a funeral only a handful of people, sometimes 10 at most — depending on the state — were lawfully permitted to bid farewell to Granny Smith, Uncle Sam, Cousin Vinny or Baby Ruth. Episcopal Church funeral rites took a hit.
In 2019 the domestic Episcopal Church conducted 26,001 funerals. That number dropped to 17,266 in 2020 but rose slightly to 23,127 in 2021. Yet nationwide COVID-era deaths went from 2,854,838 in 2019 to 3,383,613 in 2020 and up to 3,464,231 in 2021. National deaths did not drop again until 2022 when fewer Americans — 3,273,705 — died as COVID started to wane.
Some American states are home to multiple Episcopal dioceses including:
•California (5) — Los Angeles, El Camino Real, Northern California, San Joaquin and California;
•Florida (4) — Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida, Central Florida and Florida;
•Georgia (2) — Atlanta and Georgia;
•Illinois (2) — Chicago and Springfield;
•Indiana (2) — Indianapolis and Northern Indiana;
•Kansas (2) — Western Kansas and Kansas;
•Kentucky (2) — Lexington and Kentucky;
•Louisiana (2) — Western Louisiana and Louisiana;
•Maryland (2) — Easton and Maryland;
•Massachusetts (2) — Western Massachusetts and Massachusetts;
•Michigan (4) — Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Michigan and Michigan;
•Missouri (2) — Western Missouri and Missouri;
•New Jersey (2) — Newark and New Jersey;
•New York (6) — Albany, Central New York, Long Island, New York, Rochester and Western New York;
•North Carolina (2) — East Carolina and North Carolina;
•Ohio (2) — Southern Ohio and Ohio;
•Oregon (2) — Eastern Oregon and Oregon;
•Pennsylvania (5) — Bethlehem, Central Pennsylvania, Northwestern Pennsylvania, Pittsburg, and Pennsylvania;
•South Carolina (5) — Upper South Carolina and South Carolina;
•Tennessee — (3) East Tennessee, West Tennessee and Tennessee;
•Texas — (5) Dallas, West Texas, Northwest Texas, Texas and *Fort Worth. (*Fort Worth — also called the Episcopal Church in North Texas — was folded into the Diocese of Texas in 2022);
•Virginia — (3) Southern Virginia, Southwestern Virginia and Virginia;
•Washington State — (2) Olympia and Spokane; and
•Wisconsin (3) — Eau Claire, Milwaukee, and Fond du Lac.
Other Episcopal dioceses cross state lines including:
✓Central Gulf Coast (2) — Florida and Alabama;
✓Navajoland (3) — Utah, Arizona and New Mexico;
✓Rio Grande (2) — New Mexico and Texas;
✓San Diego (2) — California and Arizona; and
✓Washington, DC (2) — the District of Columbia and Maryland.
The best way to compare the COVID death rate with Episcopal funeral numbers is looking at the dioceses which share the same geographical territory as their home states. The 22 single-state dioceses include: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
STATE OF ALASKA
Base Population 2018: 736,624
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 4,613 (0.62%)
COVID 2020: 5,170 (0.70%)
COVID 2021: 6,208 (0.84%)
Post-COVID 2022: 5,719 (0.77%)
DIOCESE OF ALASKA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 6,273
COVID 2020: 6,072
COVID 2021: 5,950
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,214
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,019
COVID 2021: (AWA) 615
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 19.4%
COVID 2020: 16.8%
COVID 2021: 10.3%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 118
COVID 2020: 100
COVID 2021: 139
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.9%
COVID 2020: 1.6%
COVID 2021: 2.3%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 9.7%
COVID 2020: 9.8%
COVID 2021: 22.6%
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STATE OF ARKANSAS
Base Population 2018: 3,012,161
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 32,888 (1.09%)
COVID 2020: 38,106 (1.26%)
COVID 2021: 40,070 (1.33%)
Post-COVID 2022: 38,420 (1.27%)
DIOCESE OF ARKANSAS STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 13,456
COVID 2020: 13,202
COVID 2021: 13,056
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 4,329
COVID 2020: (AWA) 4,244
COVID 2021: (AWA) 2,460
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 32.2%
COVID 2020: 32.1%
COVID 2021: 18.8%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 169
COVID 2020: 163
COVID 2021: 188
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.25%
COVID 2020: 1.28%
COVID 2021: 1.4%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 3.9%
COVID 2020: 3.8%
COVID 2021: 7.6%
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STATE OF COLORADO
Base Population 2018: 5,697,155
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 39,390 (0.69%)
COVID 2020: 46,916 (0.80%)
COVID 2021: 48,281 (0.84%)
Post-COVID 2022: 46,868 (0.82%)
DIOCESE OF COLORADO STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 23,558
COVID 2020: 22,217
COVID 2021: 21,990
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 8,489
COVID 2020: (AWA) 7,996
COVID 2021: (AWA) 4,867
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 36.1%
COVID 2020: 35.9%
COVID 2021: 22.1%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 492
COVID 2020: 298
COVID 2021: 326
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 2.1%
COVID 2020: 1.3%
COVID 2021: 1.5%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.8%
COVID 2020: 3.7%
COVID 2021: 6.7%
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Base Population 2018: 3,574,561
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 31,745 (0.88%)
COVID 2020: 37,852 (1.05%)
COVID 2021: 48,281 (1.12%)
Post-COVID 2022: 33,238 (0.92%)
DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 44,862
COVID 2020: 43,373
COVID 2021: 40,354
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 11,751
COVID 2020: (AWA) 10,612
COVID 2021: (AWA) 6,196
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 26.2%
COVID 2020: 24.4%
COVID 2021: 15.3%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 860
COVID 2020: 504
COVID 2021: 699
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.9%
COVID 2020: 1.2%
COVID 2021: 1.7%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 7.3%
COVID 2020: 4.7%
COVID 2021: 11.3%
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STATE OF DELAWARE
Base Population 2018: 966,985
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 9,302 (0.96%)
COVID 2020: 11,072 (1.14%)
COVID 2021: 11,296 (1.16%)
Post-COVID 2022: 11,322 (1.17%)
DIOCESE OF DELAWARE STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 8,860
COVID 2020: 8,099
COVID 2021: 8,009
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 3,034
COVID 2020: (AWA) 2,862
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,696
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 37.2%
COVID 2020: 25.4%
COVID 2021: 21.2%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 195
COVID 2020: 123
COVID 2021: 212
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 2.2%
COVID 2020: 1.5%
COVID 2021: 2.6%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 6.4%
COVID 2020: 5.9%
COVID 2021: 12.5%
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STATE OF HAWAII
Base Population 2018: 1,423,102
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 11,559 (0.81%)
COVID 2020: 12,032 (0.84%)
COVID 2021: 12,816 (0.90%)
Post-COVID 2022: 12,150 (0.85%)
DIOCESE OF HAWAII STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 6,156
COVID 2020: 6,048
COVID 2021: 6,029
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 2,683
COVID 2020: (AWA) 2,679
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,535
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 43.5%
COVID 2020: 44.3%
COVID 2021: 25.4%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 125
COVID 2020: 74
COVID 2021: 121
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.4%
COVID 2020: 1.2%
COVID 2021: 2.0%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 4.8%
COVID 2020: 2.8%
COVID 2021: 7.9%
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STATE OF IDAHO
Base Population 2018: 1,752,074
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 14,430 (0.82%)
COVID 2020: 16,402 (0.93%)
COVID 2021: 18,346 (1.04%)
Post-COVID 2022: 17,189 (0.98%)
DIOCESE OF IDAHO STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 4,492
COVID 2020: 4,326
COVID 2021: 3,832
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,308
COVID 2020: (AWA) 961
COVID 2021: (AWA) 807
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 29.1%
COVID 2020: 22.2%
COVID 2021: 21.1%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 58
COVID 2020: 36
COVID 2021: 54
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.3%
COVID 2020: 0.8%
COVID 2021: 1.4%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 4.4%
COVID 2020: 3.7%
COVID 2021: 6.7%
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STATE OF IOWA
Base Population 2018: 3,149,900
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 30,867 (0.97%)
COVID 2020: 35,981 (1.14%)
COVID 2021: 32,029 (1.01%)
Post-COVID 2022: 24,002 (0.76%)
DIOCESE OF IOWA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 6,982
COVID 2020: 6,767
COVID 2021: 6,068
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 2,226
COVID 2020: (AWA) 2,708
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,385
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 31.9%
COVID 2020: 40.0%
COVID 2021: 21.5%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 130
COVID 2020: 84
COVID 2021: 116
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.8%
COVID 2020: 1.2%
COVID 2021: 1.9%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.8%
COVID 2020: 3.1%
COVID 2021: 8.4%
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STATE OF MAINE
Base Population 2018: 1,340,123
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 15,065 (1.12%)
COVID 2020: 15,740 (1.17%)
COVID 2021: 17,269 (1.28%)
Post-COVID 2022: 20,519 (1.53%)
DIOCESE OF MAINE STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 11,238
COVID 2020: 10,338
COVID 2021: 9,090
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 3,537
COVID 2020: (AWA) 3,099
COVID 2021: (AWA) 2,268
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 31.5%
COVID 2020: 29.9%
COVID 2021: 24.9%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 208
COVID 2020: 118
COVID 2021: 216
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.8%
COVID 2020: 1.2%
COVID 2021: 2.4%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.9%
COVID 2020: 3.7%
COVID 2021: 9.5%
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STATE OF MINNESOTA
Base Population 2018: 5,608,762
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 45,514 (0.81%)
COVID 2020: 52,372 (0.93%)
COVID 2021: 51,640 (0.92%)
Post-COVID 2022: 51,111 (0.91%)
DIOCESE OF MINNESOTA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 17,618
COVID 2020: 17,157
COVID 2021: 16,232
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 5,614
COVID 2020: (AWA) 4,738
COVID 2021: (AWA) 3,137
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 31.3%
COVID 2020: 27.6%
COVID 2021: 19.3%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 342
COVID 2020: 232
COVID 2021: 314
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.9%
COVID 2020: 1.3%
COVID 2021: 1.9%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 6.1%
COVID 2020: 4.9%
COVID 2021: 10.1%
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STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Base Population 2018: 2,982,879
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 32,964 (1.11%)
COVID 2020: 40,186 (1.34%)
COVID 2021: 41,085 (1.37%)
Post-COVID 2022: 34,931 (1.17%)
DIOCESE OF MISSISSIPPI STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 17,954
COVID 2020: 17,618
COVID 2021: 17,648
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 5,709
COVID 2020: (AWA) 4,926
COVID 2021: (AWA) 3,471
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 31.8%
COVID 2020: 27.9%
COVID 2021: 19.6%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 226
COVID 2020: 211
COVID 2021: 217
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.2%
COVID 2020: 1.1%
COVID 2021: 1.2%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 3.9%
COVID 2020: 4.3%
COVID 2021: 6.2%
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STATE OF MONTANA
Base Population 2018: 1,061,818
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 10,402 (0.97%)
COVID 2020: 12,027 (1.13%)
COVID 2021: 12,707 (1.19%)
Post-COVID 2022: 11,836 (1.11%)
DIOCESE OF MONTANA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 4,386
COVID 2020: 4,088
COVID 2021: 4,046
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,316
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,208
COVID 2021: (AWA) 815
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 30%
COVID 2020: 29.5%
COVID 2021: 20.1%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 79
COVID 2020: 47
COVID 2021: 41
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.8%
COVID 2020: 1.1%
COVID 2021: 1%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 6.0%
COVID 2020: 3.9%
COVID 2021: 5.0%
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STATE OF NEBRASKA
Base Population 2018: 1,925,512
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 16,970 (0.88%)
COVID 2020: 19,549 (1.01%)
COVID 2021: 18,925 (0.98%)
Post-COVID 2022: 18,523 (0.96%)
DIOCESE OF NEBRASKA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 6,959
COVID 2020: 6,947
COVID 2021: 6,843
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 2,279
COVID 2020: (AWA) 2,146
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,558
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 32.7%
COVID 2020: 30.9%
COVID 2021: 22.7%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 122
COVID 2020: 83
COVID 2021: 120
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.7%
COVID 2020: 1.2%
COVID 2021: 1.1%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.3%
COVID 2020: 3.8%
COVID 2021: 7.7%
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STATE OF NEVADA
Base Population 2018: 3,030,725
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 25,586 (0.84%)
COVID 2020: 30,618 (1.01%)
COVID 2021: 32,923 (1.08%)
Post-COVID 2022: 30,908 (1.07%)
DIOCESE OF NEVADA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 4,840
COVID 2020: 4,760
COVID 2021: 4,862
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 2,525
COVID 2020: (AWA) 2,140
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,278
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 52.1%
COVID 2020: 44.9%
COVID 2021: 26.3%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 98
COVID 2020: 68
COVID 2021: 28
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 2.0%
COVID 2020: 1.4%
COVID 2021: 0.6%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 3.9%
COVID 2020: 3.2%
COVID 2021: 2.2%
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Base Population 2018: 1,355,064
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 12,744 (0.94%)
COVID 2020: 13,700 (1.01%)
COVID 2021: 14,198 (1.04%)
Post-COVID 2022: 11,605 (0.85%)
DIOCESE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 11,525
COVID 2020: 11,219
COVID 2021: 11,057
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 3,338
COVID 2020: (AWA) 3,414
COVID 2021: (AWA) 2,096
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 28.9%
COVID 2020: 30.4%
COVID 2021: 18.9%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 236
COVID 2020: 185
COVID 2021: 247
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 2.0%
COVID 2020: 1.6%
COVID 2021: 2.2%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 7.1%
COVID 2020: 5.4%
COVID 2021: 11.8%
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STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
Base Population 2018: 760,062
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 6,702 (0.88%)
COVID 2020: 8,052 (1.05%)
COVID 2021: 7,266 (0.95%)
Post-COVID 2022: 6,069 (0.79%)
DIOCESE OF NORTH DAKOTA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 2,455
COVID 2020: 2,311
COVID 2021: 2,236
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 573
COVID 2020: (AWA) 477
COVID 2021: (AWA) 416
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 23.3%
COVID 2020: 20.6%
COVID 2021: 18.6%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 48
COVID 2020: 54
COVID 2021: 83
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.9%
COVID 2020: 2.3%
COVID 2021: 3.7%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 8.4%
COVID 2020: 11.3%
COVID 2021: 19.9%
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Base Population 2018: 3,943,488
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 40,930 (1.03%)
COVID 2020: 47,809 (1.21%)
COVID 2021: 50,945 (1.29%)
Post-COVID 2022: 43,811 (1.11%)
DIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 15,556
COVID 2020: 14,605
COVID 2021: 14,070
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 5,035
COVID 2020: (AWA) 4,245
COVID 2021: (AWA) 3,215
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 32.3%
COVID 2020: 29.1%
COVID 2021: 22.8%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 285
COVID 2020: 195
COVID 2021: 233
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.8%
COVID 2020: 1.3%
COVID 2021: 1.6%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.6%
COVID 2020: 4.6%
COVID 2021: 7.2%
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Base Population 2018: 1,059,338
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 10,256 (0.96%)
COVID 2020: 11,818 (1.11%)
COVID 2021: 11,243 (1.06%)
Post-COVID 2022: 10,732 (1.01%)
DIOCESE OF RHODE ISLAND STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 16,746
COVID 2020: 14,678
COVID 2021: 13,997
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 4,245
COVID 2020: (AWA) 3,885
COVID 2021: (AWA) 2,696
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 25.3%
COVID 2020: 26.4%
COVID 2021: 19.2%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 292
COVID 2020: 175
COVID 2021: 268
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.7%
COVID 2020: 1.2%
COVID 2021: 1.9%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 6.8%
COVID 2020: 4.5%
COVID 2021: 9.9%
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STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Base Population 2018: 879,386
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 8,270 (0.94%)
COVID 2020: 9,861 (1.21%)
COVID 2021: 9,185 (1.04%)
Post-COVID 2022: 8,731 (0.99%)
DIOCESE OF SOUTH DAKOTA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 7,631
COVID 2020: 7,358
COVID 2021: 6,507
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,739
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,252
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,313
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 22.8%
COVID 2020: 17.0%
COVID 2021: 20.2%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 278
COVID 2020: 191
COVID 2021: 285
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 3.6%
COVID 2020: 2.6%
COVID 2021: 4.0%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 15.9%
COVID 2020: 15.2%
COVID 2021: 21.7%
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STATE OF UTAH
Base Population 2018: 3,155,153
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 18,736 (0.59%)
COVID 2020: 21,497 (0.68%)
COVID 2021: 22,569 (0.71%)
Post-COVID 2022: 20,103 (0.63%)
DIOCESE OF UTAH STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 4,418
COVID 2020: 4,241
COVID 2021: 4,282
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,420
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,229
COVID 2021: (AWA) 861
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 32.1%
COVID 2020: 28.9%
COVID 2021: 20.1%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 72
COVID 2020: 39
COVID 2021: 61
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.6%
COVID 2020: 0.9%
COVID 2021: 1.4%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.1%
COVID 2020: 3.2%
COVID 2021: 7.1%
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STATE OF VERMONT
Base Population 2018: 624,802
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5,956 (0.95%)
COVID 2020: 6,459 (1.03%)
COVID 2021: 6,877 (1.10%)
Post-COVID 2022: 6,795 (1.08%)
DIOCESE OF VERMONT STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 5,674
COVID 2020: 5,305
COVID 2021: 4,743
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,866
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,567
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,112
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 32.8%
COVID 2020: 29.5%
COVID 2021: 23.4%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 133
COVID 2020: 54
COVID 2021: 94
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 2.3%
COVID 2020: 1.0%
COVID 2021: 1.9%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 7.1%
COVID 2020: 3.4%
COVID 2021: 8.4%
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
Base Population 2018: 1,805,953
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 23,404 (1.29%)
COVID 2020: 26,106 (1.44%)
COVID 2021: 29,503 (1.63%)
Post-COVID 2022: 27,823 (1.54%)
DIOCESE OF WEST VIRGINIA STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 7,138
COVID 2020: 6,767
COVID 2021: 6,405
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 2,286
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,760
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,373
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 32%
COVID 2020: 26%
COVID 2021: 21.4%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 131
COVID 2020: 75
COVID 2021: 92
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 1.8%
COVID 2020: 1.1%
COVID 2021: 1.4%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5.7%
COVID 2020: 4.3%
COVID 2021: 6.7%
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STATE OF WYOMING
Base Population 2018: 579,054
STATEWIDE DEATHS
(Percent of population)
Pre-COVID 2019: 5,121 (0.88%)
COVID 2020: 5,983 (1.03%)
COVID 2021: 6,582 (1.13%)
Post-COVID 2022: 5,823 (1.00%)
DIOCESE OF WYOMING STATISTICS
MEMBERSHIP
Pre-COVID 2019: 6,136
COVID 2020: 5,974
COVID 2021: 5,850
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
ASA (Average Sunday Attendance)
AWA (Average Weekly Attendance)
Pre-COVID 2019: (ASA) 1,565
COVID 2020: (AWA) 1,404
COVID 2021: (AWA) 1,206
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Pre-COVID 2019: 25.5%
COVID 2020: 23.5%
COVID 2021: 20.6%
FUNERALS
Pre-COVID 2019: 141
COVID 2020: 85
COVID 2021: 123
PERCENTAGE CHURCH ROSTER FUNERALS
(Parish Membership)
Pre-COVID 2019: 2.3%
COVID 2020: 1.4%
COVID 2021: 2.1%
PERCENTAGE CHURCH-GOER FUNERALS
(People-in-the-pews)
Pre-COVID 2019: 9.0%
COVID 2020: 6.1%
COVID 2021: 10.2%
Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline.
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