Church decline in England and Wales has not only stopped, but the Church is growing, as Gen Z leads an exciting turnaround in church attendance.
Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent over the last six years, busting the myth of church decline. The findings come in The Quiet Revival, a survey commissioned by Bible Society and conducted by YouGov.
The Quiet Revival shows that the most dramatic church growth is among young adults, particularly young men. In 2018, just 4 per cent of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16 per cent, with young men increasing from 4 per cent to 21 per cent, and young women from 3 to 12 per cent.
Key findings from The Quiet Revival
Co-author of The Quiet Revival Dr Rhiannon McAleer says the report shows that what people believe about Church decline is no longer true. ‘These are striking findings that completely reverse the widely held assumption that the Church in England and Wales is in terminal decline,’ she said.
‘While some traditional denominations continue to face challenges, we’ve seen significant, broad-based growth among most expressions of Church – particularly in Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism. There are now over 2 million more people attending church than there were six years ago.’
More men than women go to church
The Quiet Revival shows that men (13 per cent) are more likely to attend church than women (10 per cent). And as well church decline being reversed, the Church is also becoming more ethnically diverse, with one in five people (19 per cent) coming from an ethnic minority. Close to half of young Black people aged 18–34 (47 per cent) are now attending church at least monthly, according to The Quiet Revival.
It’s also great to see that Bible reading and confidence in the Bible have increased as well as church growth. Some 67 per cent of churchgoing Christians read the Bible at least weekly outside church.
Churchgoers are more likely to give to charity
Church growth has an impact on society, says The Quiet Revival, as churchgoers are more likely to actively participate in things that benefit the local community, such as donating to food banks, volunteering or giving to charity.
Christians also report a higher life satisfaction than non-churchgoers, with a greater connection to their community and less stress and anxiety.
Why are people finding meaning at church?
The Quiet Revival co-author Dr Rob Barward-Symmons says that one possible reason for church growth was that people were looking for meaning. ‘With much of the population struggling with mental health, loneliness and a loss of meaning in life, in particular young people, church appears to be offering an answer. We found that churchgoers are more likely than non-churchgoers to report higher life satisfaction and a greater feeling of connection to their community than non-churchgoers. They are also less likely to report frequently feeling anxious or depressed – particularly young women.’
Church is alive and well
Bible Society’s chief executive Paul Williams says: ‘The Quiet Revival is a highly significant report which should transform the perception of Christianity and churchgoing in England and Wales. Far from being on a slippery slope to extinction, the Church is alive and growing, and making a positive difference to individuals and society.’
Post expires on June 8th, 2025
