Young adults drive record church attendance in the UK

Recently, a notable spiritual awakening has been observed among young people in Western countries, most significantly in the UK and the United States. In the United States, a report revealed substantial growth in faith and church attendance, particularly among young adults in their 20s and 30s. Specifically, 66% of U.S. adults reported a personal commitment to Jesus that remains significant, marking a 12-percentage-point increase since 2021. Furthermore, the American Bible Society noted a rise in young people engaging with the Bible, which reportedly increased to 41% from 38% from the previous year, translating to approximately 10 million more users. The surge in Bible use among millennials was particularly striking, increasing by 29% year over year, while men's engagement also rose significantly, narrowing the historical gender gap in faith-based practices. In the UK, recent survey data highlighted a dramatic increase in church attendance among young adults. Over the past six years, attendance among young men soared from 4% to 21%, while attendance among young women rose from 3% to 12%. Attendance also increased for older members of Gen Z and millennials, as well as individuals over 65, demonstrating a broad revitalization of interest in church activities across generations. Overall, the survey indicated a 50% rise in church attendance across various demographics in the UK, challenging the perception that religion is declining in the country. Although some traditional denominations face challenges, growth in church attendance has been visible, particularly in Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism, with an increased ethnic diversity reflected in congregations as one in five attendees now comes from an ethnic minority background.