Young adults in England, Wales turn to faith, report says

The recent study found that the church is in a period of rapid growth, upending years of reported decline among congregations across the United Kingdom. Bible Society commissioned the report, titled The Quiet Revival, which analyzed datasets compiled by YouGov, a U.K.-based data analytics firm. In the study released last month, researchers compared results from surveys conducted in 2018 and 2024 that asked more than 10,000 participants about their religious participation and attitudes toward the Bible and Christianity. One of the key findings was that 16% of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed last year described themselves as Christian and said they attend church at least monthly, up from 4% in 2018.

Church attendance rose four percentage points, from 8% to 12% among all survey participants. The only age group to attend less frequently were 45- to 64-year-olds. The report appears to reverse the assumption that the Church is in terminal decline in the region, report co-author Rhiannon McAleer said.

What other findings stood out from the report? Young men appear to be driving the return to the church with 21% saying in 2024 that they attended a service at least monthly, a higher rate than young women, although most attend more than in 2018. The report also found about one-third of churchgoers aged 18 to 54 are from an ethnic minority. Nearly half of young black respondents aged 18 to 34 attended church regularly.

Young people also showed more interest in spirituality and Christianity, with four in ten saying they pray at least monthly and over one-third saying they definitely believe in God or a higher power. A third of all non-churchgoing respondents said they would attend a service if invited by a friend or family member. More than half said they would be happy for a Christian friend to pray for them. Non-Christians also said they would be more likely to read the Bible if recommended by a friend or family member they trust than by a celebrity or public figure. Among churchgoers, a third said they lacked confidence in understanding the Bible and sharing about it with others. The authors believe the report highlights the need for more discipleship in the church, especially for young believers.

Why is the trend shifting? According to the report, cultural attitudes toward Christianity have moved away from the hostility of so-called new atheism toward openness and curiosity. Influential figures across cultures are more open to discussing their faith in recent years, according to the report. Another factor contributing to the trend is the growing desire among young people to find meaning, order, and belonging. According to the report, more than half of young people who participated in the surveys said they frequently felt anxious or depressed. As a result, young adults appeared to be more interested in looking to Christianity to find community and purpose.

Dig deeper: Read my report in WORLD Magazine about a Pew study that suggests the decline in Christianity in the United States may also be leveling off.