In 2024 the Bible Society commissioned YouGov to conduct a survey of church attendance in England and Wales. The Bible Society published a report called “The Quiet Revival”. The survey revealed that between 2018 and 2024 monthly church attendance had risen by 50% from 8% of all adults to 12%. The most dramatic church growth has been among young adults, particularly young men. In 2018, just 4 per cent of 18–24-year-olds and 25-34-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. This has now risen to 16% of 18–24-year-olds and 13% of 25-34-year-olds.

More men (13%) are likely to attend church than women (10%). The Catholic and Pentecostal churches have seen the biggest increase. One in five churchgoers come from an ethnic minority. Almost half of young Black people aged 18–34 now attend church at least once a month.

One of the authors of the report says one possible reason for growth in attendance is that people are looking for meaning in life: “With much of the population struggling with mental health, loneliness and a loss of meaning in life, in particular young people, churches are 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.”

Bible reading and confidence in the Bible have also increased. 67 per cent of churchgoing Christians read the Bible at least once a week outside church but a third of those who go to church find navigating and understanding the Bible difficult. The Bible is a very big book. The best place to start reading the Bible is with the Gospels that are at the beginning of the New Testament. The Gospel writers were eyewitnesses of the life and ministry of Jesus life and faithfully and accurately record all that he did and taught. Knowing Jesus is the heart of the Christian faith.

At a difficult time in Jesus’ ministry some people stopped following him. Jesus asked his closest disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” In a world of so many words the words of Jesus have a calm authority and a ring of truth.