We launched our report The Quiet Revival in April, and since then the title has become common currency. Our headline figure is that between 2018 and 2025 church attendance grew from 8% to 12% of the population. That there’s a ‘quiet revival’ in churchgoing is generally accepted, though of course there’s discussion about its nature and extent.
What’s also clear is that this growth – which is particularly noticeable among younger people and men – is unevenly spread. In some congregations, it’s very marked, while others won’t see much difference, if any. There are also differences between denominations and expressions of church: Pentecostals and Catholics are seeing growth, for instance, while Anglicans are, at best, stable.
The important question is, what next? We are at a particular cultural moment which represents an opportunity to consolidate a generational change in the religious landscape of England and Wales.
This is where questions of practical ecumenism become really urgent. We’re clear at Bible Society that there’s a need for new or returning churchgoers to be grounded in the Christian faith, and particularly grounded in the Bible. We’re hearing of many who’ve arrived in church with no Christian background at all. These new churchgoers need discipleship from scratch, and in terms of Bible understanding and awareness of how to ‘do’ Christianity, they’re often starting a long way back.
Meeting the needs of these seekers after truth can be very challenging, particularly for congregations – and ministers – unused to this new situation. Nevertheless, churches do now need to plan for growth rather than for maintenance or decline.
This is where congregations – particularly smaller congregations – could usefully work together to meet these needs. There are plenty of teaching and discipleship resources out there, including Bible Society’s own The Bible Course, designed to introduce people to the big story of Scripture in an engaging and accessible way. If there are one or two newcomers in a church, they might not find something like that as comfortable as if they were in a larger group – so perhaps churches might put on courses together. There are also challenges around meeting the needs of younger people, who are far less likely to be atheists and are more open to faith than their parents; and of men. We’d encourage local congregations to engage with The Quiet Revival report together and consider its recommendations.
Different denominations and traditions have their own identities which should be cherished and upheld. Newcomers exploring faith will do so in a particular context, and they will grow in their discipleship shaped by the tradition in which they find themselves. But above and beyond this they will encounter God in the pages of Scripture. Teaching them to read the Bible with understanding is one of the greatest gifts a congregation can offer.
Dr Rhiannon also presented on The Quiet Revival to the Churches Together in England Enabling Group in October 2025. Watch her presentation and download the accompanying slides.
Bible Society is a Charity and Network in Association with Churches Together in England.