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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nI<\/span>t\u2019s 10am on Sunday, and people are already starting to filter through the doors of Harbour Church. Sun streams through the windows \u2013 there\u2019s an air of anticipation as congregation members greet each other and catch up on the week just gone. Soon, the room is filling up, the sound of gentle chatter swelling as the throng grows and people take their seats. The five-piece worship band strikes up; the crowd gets to its feet; the air vibrates as more than a hundred voices sing praises to God. <\/p>\nThere\u2019s no special occasion to pin the numbers on \u2013 it\u2019s not Christmas or Easter on this particular Sunday, nor is there a wedding dress, christening gown or coffin in sight. It\u2019s just a regular, run-of-the-mill service at this church in Folkestone, Kent.<\/p>\n
It was a different story 25 years ago when church leaders Sarah and Gareth arrived. Back then, 15 people would show up on a Sunday morning; these days, there are somewhere between 150 and 180 attendees every single week. This, in itself, feels a miraculous feat amid a wider trend that has seen Christianity in modern Britain stuck on a constant downward trajectory. But perhaps the most surprising thing of all is the number of young people who are going against the secular grain. Looking around on a Sunday morning, the demographics are wildly different from the expected cluster of silver-haired worshippers \u2013 instead, there\u2019s a diverse spectrum comprised of teenagers, young adults and extended families with toddlers and kids zooming around, as well as people in their thirties, forties and every decade beyond.<\/p>\n
It’s a trend that is being seen far beyond the confines of this one church, according to new research. The Bible Society\u2019s \u201cThe Quiet Revival\u201d <\/em>report has made some remarkable claims about a resurgence of Christianity in the UK. Although the percentage of Brits identifying as Christian has fallen to 39 per cent, \u201cThe Church is in a period of rapid growth, driven by young adults and in particular young men\u201d, reads the report, which analysed the results of a largescale YouGov survey asking participants how often they attended church aside from weddings, baptisms and funerals. The number of people reporting monthly attendance has risen from 8 per cent in 2018 to 12 per cent in 2024. But the most remarkable jump in reported attendance has been among Generation Z, quadrupling from 4 per cent to 16 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds. There\u2019s been an even more dramatic shift for young men: a fivefold growth from 4 to 21 per cent.<\/p>\n\u201cThese are striking findings that completely reverse the widely held assumption that the Church in England and Wales is in terminal decline,\u201d said study co-author Dr Rhiannon McAleer. \u201cWhile some traditional denominations continue to face challenges, we\u2019ve seen significant, broad-based growth among most expressions of church \u2013 particularly in Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism. There are now over 2 million more people attending church than there were six years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are other markers, too, that indicate a potential reversal of fortunes for the Christian faith. According to Nielsen BookScan data, UK Bible sales went from netting \u00a32.69m in 2019 to \u00a35.02m in 2024 \u2013 an increase of \u00a32.33m in just five years. To put this in context, Bible sales increased by just over \u00a3277,000 in total in the 11 years from 2008 to 2019. This renewed interest in scripture is also being attributed to Gen Z; the Good News Bible \u2013 The Youth Edition<\/em>, for example, has seen sales nearly double since 2021. And it\u2019s not a UK-only phenomenon: US Bible sales have seen a 22 per cent uplift in the past year alone, with publishers reporting more first-time buyers than ever.<\/p>\nA recent piece of research commissioned by Christian student movement Fusion, meanwhile, found that even non-religious students were open to exploring Christian ideas. Survey data from 2,030 undergraduates, of which 39 per cent identified as Christian and 36 per cent identified as \u201cno religion\u201d, revealed that half of all respondents said they were interested in reading the Bible in their spare time. Some 37 per cent of students with \u201cno religion\u201d stated that they already owned a copy of the Bible; 13 per cent of the same group claimed they prayed weekly. \u201cThis indicates that for some students, spiritual practices persist even without a formal religious identity,\u201d the report concluded.<\/p>\n
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Bible sales have gone up in the UK (Getty\/iStock)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGen-Zers have even been dubbed the \u201cspiritual generation\u201d after research found that they are far more likely to describe themselves this way: 62 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds claim to be \u201cvery\u201d or \u201cfairly\u201d spiritual, compared to just 35 per cent of those over 65. Only 13 per cent of Gen-Zers identify as atheists, in contrast to 20 per cent of millennials and 25 per cent of Gen X. It makes sense; for the two generations above, Christianity was presented in popular culture as deeply uncool at best \u2013 think Songs of Praise <\/em>stuffiness combined with Ned Flanders\u2019s brand of \u201cOkily dokily!\u201d cringe in The Simpsons<\/em> \u2013 and sexist or homophobic at worst, darkly epitomised by the dangerous \u201cpray the gay away\u201d ideology espoused at conversion therapy camps. It coincided with the rise of populist atheism, pedalled by academics like Richard Dawkins in the Noughties, to create an environment in which professing to have faith of any kind felt like deviant behaviour.<\/p>\nBut we\u2019re now witnessing a \u201csignificant cultural shift regarding matters of faith and religion\u201d, argues Sam Richardson, CEO at Christian publisher SPCK. \u201cWe are seeing an increased curiosity about Christianity,\u201d he says. \u201cRather than relying on atheist thought leaders (or, for that matter, church leaders), we are seeing people want to draw their own conclusions by reading Christian books in general and the Bible in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n
So what\u2019s the appeal and relevance of Christianity, often presented as something quaintly \u201ctraditional\u201d or hopelessly antiquated, for today\u2019s young people? <\/p>\n
Much has been made of the fact that young men seem to be flocking to religion, potentially drawn by alt-right content creators \u2013 for instance, Jordan Peterson \u2013 who weave Christianity into problematic narratives around masculinity and traditional gender roles. But that doesn\u2019t reflect the reality of many of the Gen Z Christians I encounter.<\/p>\n\n
\nAs someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, my faith gives me some peace and clarity<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Lizzie, 27<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For Harry Clark, the 24-year-old winner of season two of The Traitors<\/em>, his Catholic faith helps him feel less \u201clost\u201d. In advance of his appearance on the latest series of BBC 1 show Pilgrimage<\/em>, in which he\u2019ll explore all things faith with his fellow celebrity castmates as they trek through the Austrian and Swiss Alps, Clark told The Telegraph<\/em>: \u201cYou can be so lost but then you are found. God is the only one who knows everything about me. It\u2019s like a vase that shatters and God is the one that can put together the shards.\u201d<\/p>\nThe young Christians I speak to share similar stories of feeling fully \u201cknown\u201d and loved by God. Jordan, 26, tells me that faith has given her \u201can overwhelming sense of peace\u201d. Yes, being religious has been framed as profoundly countercultural throughout her life \u2013 \u201cAs a uni student I didn\u2019t get swept away with the drinking culture; I got married young (engaged at 19, married at 21), which blew a lot of my non-Christian friends\u2019 minds\u201d \u2013 but she has no regrets. \u201cAm I allowed to say everything?\u201d she responds when I ask her to name the best thing she gets from her faith. \u201cKnowing it\u2019s not my strength I rely on, but God\u2019s, brings such peace and joy. And a sense of community and family with other Christians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Josh, 27, was raised in a Christian household and has gone to church since he was a child. While growing up he felt part of a tiny minority, he\u2019s noticed a real change in the past few years \u2013 particularly since Covid. \u201cPeople have become much more receptive to faith; they\u2019re searching for answers and a need for something bigger than themselves,\u201d he says. Josh\u2019s own reasons for keeping the faith also include the community aspect, plus \u201cknowing God personally\u201d: \u201cHe is a comfort in hard times. I like seeking Him for guidance in everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
What has been described as a global \u201cmental health crisis\u201d among young people is perhaps one potential explanation for faith\u2019s renewed appeal in 2025. Between 2010 and 2015, suicide rates among 10- to 14-year-old girls and boys increased by 167 and 92 per cent, respectively; self-harm rates for teenage girls in the UK soared by 78 per cent; and anxiety diagnoses for those aged 18 to 25 jumped by 92 per cent. These grim statistics have gone hand in hand with the stratospheric rise in social media and smartphone use, according to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the bestselling book The Anxious Generation<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n
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Church can bring a sense of community and belonging (Getty\/iStock)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBy contrast, \u201cThe Quiet Revival\u201d <\/em>report found that Christians reported higher life satisfaction than non-churchgoers, with a greater connection to their community and less stress and anxiety. Interestingly, a major piece of research on teenage wellbeing conducted by scientists at the University of Oxford and Swansea University last year found that just three elements strongly correlated with better adolescent mental health: getting enough sleep, regular exercise and \u2013 wait for it \u2013 attending religious services. \u201cThese three consistently predicted low anxiety, low depression, high wellbeing, high flourishing, and high agency,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\nIt’s something that 27-year-old Lizzie has found hugely beneficial in terms of being a Christian. \u201cAs someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, my faith gives me some peace and clarity,\u201d she says. \u201cI know there\u2019s always someone there who loves me unconditionally and will never judge me for the things I do or don\u2019t do. Sometimes it feels freeing to give myself over to a higher power, and let the chips fall as they may as part of a greater plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lottie, 28, agrees that \u201cit massively helps with mental health. It gives you a sense of purpose that drives you.\u201d It\u2019s also helped her in supporting her husband, a fellow Christian who suffers from depression: \u201cI needed faith to help us through that situation. Mental health isn\u2019t absent in church \u2013 and it doesn\u2019t mean that if you have faith, you\u2019re not going to have mental health difficulties \u2013 but it\u2019s something that can help, knowing that there\u2019s a higher meaning to it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\nI feel like I can be vulnerable; I feel like I can be honest about who I am, the struggles that I\u2019m going through<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Lottie, 28<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
The Bible Society report posits two interlinking factors for the uplift in young people seeking religion: a \u201cchange of climate\u201d as the perception of Christianity has shifted from hostility to apathy to openness, and <\/em>the quest for belonging. The former has been reflected in various media moments in recent years, from Phoebe Waller-Bridge\u2019s \u201chot priest\u201d love interest in Fleabag<\/em> to praise for Church of England priest Richard Coles\u2019s faith-infused wisdom during his stint on I\u2019m a Celebrity\u2026 <\/em>last year. The latter, meanwhile, could well be fundamental; every Christian I interview cites the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a loving church as one of the major benefits. \u201cI feel like I can be vulnerable; I feel like I can be honest about who I am, the struggles that I\u2019m going through,\u201d says Lottie. \u201cI think it\u2019s hard to come across a community like that that looks after you so well.\u201d<\/p>\nAnd research supports the theory that getting involved in a community could have a positive impact on young people\u2019s mental health. Andrea Danese, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at King\u2019s College London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, says that participation in community activities and access to safe social spaces \u201ccan provide adolescents with opportunities to build social skills and resilience\u201d, acting as a buffer against social anxiety.<\/p>\n
In an unstable world where uncertainty reigns, perhaps the biggest gift that religion can provide young people with is a pathway through the chaos, a light in the dark. As Lizzie puts it: \u201cHope is one of the biggest things I get out of my faith … You\u2019re never alone, no matter how much you may feel it. And I think that\u2019s beautiful.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more It\u2019s 10am on Sunday, and people are already starting to filter through the doors of Harbour Church. Sun streams through the windows \u2013 there\u2019s an air of anticipation as congregation members greet each other and catch up on the week just gone. Soon, the room is filling up, the sound of gentle chatter swelling as the throng grows and people take their seats. The five-piece worship band strikes up; the crowd gets to its feet; the air vibrates as more than a hundred voices sing praises to God. There\u2019s no special occasion to pin the numbers on \u2013 it\u2019s not Christmas or Easter on this particular Sunday, nor is there a wedding dress, christening gown or coffin in sight. It\u2019s just a regular, run-of-the-mill service at this church in Folkestone, Kent. It was a different story 25 years ago when church leaders Sarah and Gareth arrived. Back then, 15 people would show up on a Sunday morning; these days, there are somewhere between 150 and 180 attendees every single week. This, in itself, feels a miraculous feat amid a wider trend t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13750"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13750\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}