Every September, more than two million young people start their university adventure. It’s a season of fresh freedom, big questions, and new identities being shaped.
Spiritual openness is greater than you might think: 30 per cent of students say they’ve never been personally told the story of Jesus, 45 per cent would like to hear it, and 34 per cent say “maybe later." [1]
In recent months, much has been written about the so-called “quiet revival.” In essence, what is being reported is that we are seeing an increase in people, especially younger people, attending church, with a growing interest in the Bible.
In my work with The Open-Air Mission, I have certainly seen a far greater number of young people showing interest in the good news than I have previously observed. People are open to talking about the gospel and reading God’s Word. These are all good things, though I remain cautiously optimistic.
Three years ago I wrote a comment piece for EvangelicalsNow 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%.
You've most likely read or heard about the quiet UK revival, namely the rising interest in Christianity among younger generations as explored in the Bible Society's latest report.
I remember when my husband and I ran Whizz Kids groups for kids at large events. We prayed that if children became Christians, it would be an obvious work of the Spirit. As a result, we have heard many stories of children saying they felt they were woken by Jesus, or He spoke to them in the shower. One even felt God's call when on a funfair ride! A call to faith that only God could take the glory for.
When the chips are down, what qualities do you look for in a leader? Someone who can offer a stirring speech or a strategic vision might spring to mind. But when a storm comes, there is something to be said for a calm voice and a firm hand on the tiller. And with this morning’s historic announcement that Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, is to be our 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, that is exactly what the Church of England has chosen.
Bishop Sarah is not an evangelical. She has previously led on the Living in Love and Faith process, and described the vote in 2023 to approve same-sex blessings as a "moment of hope for the Church" noting that there were prayers "within that suite that I would use". But she has always been aware of the differences of opinion across the Church of England on this, and other, issues, adding "I know that what we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many but too far for others."
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.
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.
Is the 'quiet revival' getting louder?
Every September, more than two million young people start their university adventure. It’s a season of fresh freedom, big questions, and new identities being shaped.
Spiritual openness is greater than you might think: 30 per cent of students say they’ve never been personally told the story of Jesus, 45 per cent would like to hear it, and 34 per cent say “maybe later." [1]