It is not the purpose of this study to find the answer to the question which has often been asked, "Why have so many churches closed?" Finding the answer to this question is possibly an ultimate or underlying purpose, but it is not anticipated that the study will answer the question. Very little study is given to the processes which operate to cause the demise of particular congregations. Attention is rather focused on statistical data which are easily obtainable and the attempt is made to determine which of these are significantly related to the fact of closing.