ARE you still quivering? It’s a serious question. I’ve just been reading about a new movement which began in the US – where else? – called the Quiverers. They are Evangelical Christians who have taken literally the words of Psalm 127: “Lo, children, and the fruit of the womb, are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord. Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant, even so are the young children. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.”

So Quiverers refuse all forms of contraception and leave it to God – or nature – to decide how many children they produce. It used to be only Roman Catholics who eschewed all forms of birth control, except the so-called rhythm method, otherwise known as Vatican roulette; but the Quiverers are largely Protestants. And they will have to pay for their principles – children are a dear do, as all mothers and fathers know.

This efflorescence of fruitfulness has come not a moment too soon for the condition of Christianity in Britain. Last week’s review of the 2011 census figures reveals that there are many fewer native Christians than the number declared when the census was first published.

The original total was greatly augmented by the number of immigrants, chiefly from Poland. But the number of young people calling themselves Christian has fallen to the lowest ever. By contrast, Britain has a rapidly growing Muslim population, increased by massive immigration, but also by the vastly superior birth rate among Muslim mothers. British Islam has no need of its own version of Quiverers. There are now twice as many Muslims as Methodists.

Why is Christianity in terminal decline in Britain? Mainly because it is neither preached nor taught – except by a few enthusiastic missionaries coming here from Africa where Christianity is burgeoning. Our own church hierarchy gave up believing in the supernatural truths of Christianity a generation ago. For modern bishops and clergy – and consequently for those they contaminate with their teaching – Christ’s resurrection was only the disciples’ subjective feeling of “new life” and his feeding of the 5,000 no miracle but only a story about “sharing”

– a kind of socialist picnic. No wonder people desert the pews.

But hang on, here comes the cavalry.

Katharine Welby, the formerly-depressed daughter of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, is to “spearhead” a fresh church movement called “The Happiness Course.” This derives from a US pop-psychologist who last year encouraged David Cameron to ask the nation the question: “What makes you happy?” So when it comes to the Church of England, verily gimmick shall succeed unto gimmick throughout the generations.

The nation is drowning already under a mush-storm of happiness courses, diets, fads, gurus and do-it-yourself techniques for promoting a blissful “lifestyle”. The bookshops and colour supplements are awash with this drivel. The mission of the church is not to copy and follow this narcissistic, consumerist tosh but to present the unique antidote to it in the form of Christian doctrine.

What is Christian doctrine? Simply that we are all sinners in peril of judgement. Christ, the Son of God, came to save us from our sins.

Believe this and you will be saved. Of course, we are all free to reject it as primitive nonsense but, even if it is preached only by a few swivel-eyed lunatics, it is the one true gospel.

It is what Christ commanded the church to preach. Take it or leave it.