In depth | Evangelicals Now

Revival? Revolution? Or what?

Russell Moore

"I saw on a news clip that Bible sales are up," a woman said to me this week. "Does that mean we are in a revival?"

The news reports this woman noticed are consistent with what Bob Smietana at Religion News Service cited from a new Pew Research Centre study: A growing number of Americans—almost a third—now believe religion’s influence is rising in America.

Revival: my experience with Al Qaeda-loving African chiefs

James Burnett

During the Second Great Awakening, a hot potato leapt from one set of anodyne pastor's hands to another: “Can churches plan a revival?” What do you think?

Stories of revival are sacred heirlooms passed down through the generations. My grandmother told me my great-great grandfather was led to Christ by George Muller of Bristol. Granny ‘Nett lisped revivals to her grandkids while other grandparents rhapsodized famous FA Cup finals, career choices, or U2 concerts.

history

Daniel McPhail and the revival at Osgoode: A ministry marked by prayer

Michael Haykin

Under the powerful ministry of Daniel McPhail’s preaching, the church at Osgoode flourished.

When McPhail became the pastor of the church, there were 60 members. A year later, the membership had increased to 76. By the annual assembly of the Ottawa Association in 1846, at which McPhail preached the introductory sermon, the Osgoode church had 99 members. A dozen years later, this had nearly doubled to 192.

The revival so quiet you can’t actually hear it?

Dave Burke

Three years ago I wrote a comment piece for Evangelicals Now suggesting that there was a quiet work of God taking place in the churches and we had not noticed it.

Imagine my delight when the Bible Society published “The Quiet Revival”, a survey by YouGov showing that church attendance in the UK had risen by 50% in the last six years and that the main growth was among young people. Only 4% of young people attended church at least once a month in 2018, now the figure is 16%.

letter from Australia

Renewed faith down under?

David Robertson

There has been a great deal of talk about the “quiet revival” in the UK, but has it arrived in Australia?

Like the UK, there has been a lot of discussion and numerous articles and anecdotes that this is indeed the case. The statistical evidence has come through the McCrindle Research 2025 report – An Undercurrent of Faith: Australia’s Renewed Relationship with Christianity. McCrindle is an excellent research organisation with a good track record.

Now This

Is this ‘revival’ true revival?

Bill James

There are reports of a “Quiet Revival” in the UK.

Certainly there is evidence of increased church attendance; this is mainly among Roman Catholics and Pentecostals. But there is also anecdotal evidence of an increased number of conversions, and new people turning up at church interested in the Christian faith.

More UK adults exploring Christianity? New report reveals why

Milla Ling-Davies

Amid recent reports of a “quiet revival” and renewed exploration of Christianity in the UK, the question remains: Why the growing interest? A new report from the Evangelical Alliance has helped reveal the answer.

The Evangelical Alliance’s (EA) “Finding Jesus” research, conducted in 2024 and released this June, found that UK adults are investigating Christianity primarily due to a need for meaning and hope – often prompted by a personal crisis.

What Crystal Palace taught me about revival

Gavin Calver

I’m a massive football fan and I hail from South London. I personally support AFC Wimbledon, but it was a real joy to see another team from my side of the river, Crystal Palace, lift the FA Cup and in the process win the first major trophy in their 100+ years of existence.

Their fans had waited so long for a moment like this, had believed it might never come and when it did, what a moment it was. On a beautiful May afternoon, at a sun-kissed Wembley Stadium, they beat the overwhelming favourites Manchester City 1-0 through a goal by one of their star players, Eberechi Eze.

A quiet UK revival? How can we respond?

Rebecca Chapman

As we look forward to Easter, some of us may reflect on how many people attended Christmas services, and be recalling the joy of overflowing churches.

There has been talk of a Christian revival in the UK for at least a year – and speculation about it everywhere from the press to podcasts. But where is the data showing us how the Spirit is moving? Instead, we are often presented with disappointing data from various denominations about decreasing numbers of people attending church.

Aber 2024: the power of revival

James Allan

The annual conference of the Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) took place as usual in Aberystwyth during the second week of August.

The highlight of the conference each year is the preaching of God’s Word in the Great Hall of the university campus. This year’s speaker was David Meredith, Mission Director for the Free Church of Scotland.

Why I no longer pray for the ‘good old days’ of revival

David Shepherd

William P. Mackay, the Scottish doctor and Presbyterian minister, penned one of my favourite hymns.

It begins: ‘We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy love’. However, it is the chorus’ anthemic appeal to God that most evangelicals probably remember, which goes:

Decline, purification – or slow-burn revival?

Dave Burke

Three of Sunderland’s Methodist church buildings went up for sale this week. I’ve watched their congregations decline steadily over the years and I’m amazed it took the faithful little remnants so long to throw in the towel.

Churches are closing everywhere, not just in the north of England. A recent edition of Christianity asked 12 Christians, mostly leaders, and some young people, a deceptively simple question: ‘How do we stop the decline?’ The answers were thoughtful and full of insight, but I wondered if they had been asked the right question.

The last mainland British revivals?

Matthew Pickhaver

This year sees the centenary of the last major evangelical revival on the British mainland.

Among its converts was the father of Stanley Griffin (1930–2004), who went on to write the definitive account, A Forgotten Revival (DayOne, 1992). Drawing from it, let’s go back to 1921 to see what God has done…

In Depth: revival