The coverage of Lord Carey's alleged claim that the Church of England is "one generation from extinction" offers support to a familiar, but probably false, story about its inevitable generational decline. Recent analysis by Ipsos Mori of attendance at religious services shows that by 2011 Generation Y (those born between 1980 and 2000) were almost as likely to attend once a month or more as those born pre-1939. They have overtaken both Generation X and the baby boomers. Young people are less likely to claim affiliation but recently look like they are more likely to attend.

The decline in Christian affiliation is largely among those who were only nominally connected, and the decline in overall attendance exaggerated because it's seen solely through the lens of the Church of England and "mainline" denominations. In 2011, 21% of the population claimed to attend a religious service once a month or more, the same as in 1989. Even if the Anglican church has fallen on hard times, other expressions of Christianity are flourishing.

The Christian church in the UK is certainly changing shape but it's far from doomed. A smaller, more fully committed church, including the Anglican one, may be a very good thing.

Elizabeth Oldfield | Read the letter in guardian.co.uk