Exploring the Psychological Type Profile of Rural Anglican Congregations Nurtured in the Catholic Tradition: A Pilot Study in Wales

Abstract

The present study draws on data provided by 75 adult churchgoers attending five rural Anglican congregations in Wales, nurtured in the Catholic tradition, who completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales. Their profile was then set alongside the profile of 3,302 Anglican churchgoers reported in an earlier study. While there were no differences between the two groups in terms of the two orientations, the two judging functions, or the two attitudes toward the outer world, there was a significantly greater proportion of intuitive types among the congregations nurtured in the Catholic tradition (32% compared with 20%). This finding is consistent with the view that the Anglo-Catholic tradition appeals to and sustains intuitive types. It also demonstrates that a Church capable of embracing both the Catholic and the Reformed tradition is better placed to be inclusive of diverse psychological types.