During the first World War Charles Richardson started as a despatch rider and then as an Infantryman narrowly missed going over the top with the Second Lancashire Fusiliers.

He met a Salvation Army Chaplain who gave him a Bible. Charles read it and committed his life to Christ. He came back a new man and carried on driving a taxi.

Charles had four children who each embraced the Christian faith. His daughter served on the mission field in the Congo and his sons all had significant impact as leaders in The Boys Brigade.

Eleven grandchildren were born and ten of them would describe themselves as Christ followers. The great grandchildren already include two Anglican vicars and many lay leaders.

I share this story of my wife’s grandfather because of a piece of evidence from a European Values Study.

It shows that among Anglicans who say that religion is very important in their lives, only 36% listed religious faith as an especially important quality that children can be encouraged to learn at home, compared to good manners (94%) or tolerance and respect (83%).

Of all the things that we pass on to our children I acknowledge the value of good manners and aspects of good behaviour. However I place a much greater value on passing on the blessing of faith.

I readily agree that it is not easy and that the spirit of the world would undermine our efforts. And yet so many children it seems are being hindered in their faith development.

They do not know that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them and they are not experiencing the joy and love of a consecrated home where there are daily examples of prayer and heartfelt obedient service.

Parents take great care to provide proper meals each day but where is the spiritual nourishment from the Word of God?

Passing on the baton of faith to the next generation must be one of the biggest challenges facing the church. Let the children come to me, said Jesus, and do not stop them. We are not heeding that injunction.

Bishop Geoff Pearson, Bishop of Lancaster