Compared with the membership rolls of an average Episcopal church, Calvary is young. A demographic breakdown shows most of our members are married, a majority are female (56%), and one-third of parish households have children. We’re also relatively new to Calvary: More than half of our congregants have been members for less than nine years.

In line with church data for our diocese and the Episcopal Church as a whole, our Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) has experienced a decline. Statistics for 2010 show an ASA of 336, a 13% decrease since 2005. During that same period, the number of communicants in good standing (CGS) and Sunday school attendance have been stable. CGS increased somewhat to 972 in 2010, compared with 940 in 2005.

Our congregants reside throughout the city and in surrounding communities in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. Still, the vast majority (84%) live within eight zip codes situated between the Mississippi River and the city’s eastern border. These Poplar Corridor zip codes contain residents of diverse race, income, and lifestyle. Eleven percent of our members live in suburban communities, including Bartlett, Germantown, and Collierville; 5% come from neighboring states.

Calvary’s demographics suggest several things:

• Because most congregants have been members for less than nine years, their concept of Calvary is based on current experience, not the past: They have no preconceived notions of what Calvary was prior to 2001, under former rector Doug Bailey’s influence.

• The prevalence of members under 50 and the large number of households with children means young families are attracted to Calvary.

• Our households are geographically scattered, with little representation from Calvary’s own downtown zip code; we could do a better job of attracting from our own back yard.

• The broad spread of our household demographics indicates that we are a cathedral-type church, drawing members from across the city and beyond state borders. Most Calvary members do not live close by, and in fact drive past hundreds of other Christian churches to worship downtown at Calvary.