The findings are included in the latest edition of the Rural Theology Journal, and were carried out by the Rev Canon Prof Leslie Francis, Director of the Welsh National Centre for Religious Studies at the University of Wales in Bangor. According to his research, based on a survey of 185 churchgoers in three rural Welsh benefices, individuals whose perceiving processes are described as sensing rather than intuitive, whose judging processes are defined as feeling rather than thinking, and whose attitudes towards the outer world are judging rather than perceiving, are more likely to go to church.

The research found that in these rural churches these psychological tendencies accounted for 32 per cent of female churchgoers who were introverts, compared to just 18 per cent of the general population, while among male introverts this figure was 19 per cent, compared to just seven per cent nationally. These people are more likely to demonstrate personalities which are quiet, friendly, responsible and conscientious, patient and caring, and respond well to encouragement and praise.