The Church of England said "continued challenges" have led to a dip in attendance, as official statistics released today also showed it holding fewer baptisms, funerals and marriages.

Average Sunday attendance in 2009 fell to 944,000 from 960,000 in 2008, while average monthly attendance fell to 1.651 million from 1.667 million.

Reverend Lynda Barley, head of research and statistics at the Church of England, said the figures gave "an important but inevitably partial snapshot" that painted a "mixed picture" for 2009.

"Alongside some encouraging signs, such as the number of under-16s in church holding steady and growth in church attendance in 16 out of 44 dioceses, there are continued challenges, with further small declines in traditional attendance measures," she said.

The number of babies baptised fell to 83,800 in 2009 from 86,500. Marriages in parish churches fell to 52,700 from 53,100. The number of Church of England funerals also fell – to 176,700 from 188,100.