Over the past five years, the number of church service visits has steadily declined in the country. It shows figures that the News Agency Siren has requested from the Swedish Church.

However, some types of worship services still have a fairly high proportion of visitors.

- For example, the Christmas and Advent times clearly generate more visitors. But above all, it is at the great festivals of life such as baptism and confirmation that the church meets most of the worship services today, says Pernilla Jonsson, Head of Analysis at the Swedish Church, to the News Agency Siren.

Significant reduction in Värnamo

In Jönköping County, the trend is similar to the rest of the country. In Värnamo, the number of church service visits to the Swedish Church has decreased by 26 percent over the past five years. In Mullsjö, that figure is 22 percent.

- People probably have so much else to do on the weekend, so we probably aren't as high on the priority, says Thommy Rosenspira, who works as a communist in Byarum's pastorate in Vaggeryds municipality.

Increased in Vaggeryd

Two municipalities are moving towards the trend and instead the number of worship service visitors has increased. It is Habo that has increased by one percent and Vaggeryd where the increase has been eight percent.

- I think you feel comfortable in our context, we have a pretty low threshold, says Thommy Rosenspira.

The services that are included in the statistics are the Sunday Mass, Sunday worship services, but also baptisms, weddings and funerals.