Religion: Growth of U.S. Churches

If church membership is the criterion, the U.S. is more interested in religion than it ever was before. According to a survey by the National Council of Churches, the 54 largest religious bodies (50,000 and over) gained 51.6% in membership between 1926 and 1949. In the same period, the U.S. population grew about 30%.

Among the fastest sprouters during the 23-year period were some of the evangelistic sects, e.g., the Church of God in Christ (1,025%), the Assemblies of God (474%). "Once thought of as appealing especially to the socially disadvantaged," the National Council report remarks, such sects "are now bringing into their ranks large numbers of the 'comfortable' portion of the population."

Membership figures of leading U.S. churches in 1949, in thousands, with percentages of increase over 1926:

Assemblies of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 474%

Baptists, Northern. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,583 23

Baptists, Southern. . . . . . . . . . . . 6,761 92

Churches of God in Christ. . . . . . . 340 1,025

Congregationalists. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,184 19

Disciples of Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,738 26

Episcopalians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,298 24

Evangelical Lutherans. . . . . . . . .1,677 61

United Lutherans . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,952 61

Methodists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,792 30

Mormons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980 81

Presbyterians, Northern. . . . . . .2,401 27

Presbyterians, Southern. . . . . . . . 653 50

Seventh Day Adventists. . . . . . . . 230 107

Unitarians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 24

Roman Catholics. . . . . . . . . . . 27,610 48

Jewish Congregations. . . . . . . . .5,000 23