Study Says Gen Z in England Is Leading a Church Comeback—With Catholicism Rising

England, 27 May 2025: The Catholic Church is gaining popularity among Generation Z, with new research published on 8 April 2025 revealing a significant rise in young adults in England and Wales identifying as Catholic and Pentecostal. The survey by Bible Society highlights a broader revival of Christian interest, particularly among 18–34 year olds, in areas such as church attendance, prayer, Bible reading and faith-based activism. It also notes demographic shifts, including growth among ethnic minorities and young white men.

It shows that 35 per cent of the 18–34 age group say they are Catholic, 11 per cent are Pentecostal, and 25 per cent identify as Anglican.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference reports that there are 6.2 million Catholics in England and Wales, with 1.75 million attending Mass regularly.

Denominational Shifts Reflect Changing Youth Preferences

The survey, The Quiet Revival, reveals that after years of declining congregations, many young adults are now being drawn to Christian beliefs and practices. In 2018, research conducted by YouGov for Bible Society showed that Anglicans made up 41 per cent of churchgoers, but this dropped to 34 per cent in 2024. Meanwhile, Roman Catholics rose from 23 per cent to 31 per cent, and Pentecostalists from four per cent to 10 per cent.

The shift is especially marked among the 18–34 demographic: Anglican churchgoers declined from 30 to 20 per cent, while 41 per cent identified as Catholic and 18 per cent as Pentecostal.

Migration and Ethnic Diversity Boost Church Growth

One reason for the increase in Catholic and Pentecostal numbers may be the growth of ethnic minority populations. Many migrants from countries such as Poland, Ukraine and South America are Catholic, while significant numbers of Africans belong to Pentecostalist churches. The research shows that one in five churchgoers is from an ethnic minority, a figure that rises to one in three among those aged 18–54.

Young White Men Drive Unexpected Surge in Church Attendance

The trend is not limited to ethnic minority groups. Among white 18–34 year old men, 18 per cent are now attending church monthly, a sharp rise from just 3 per cent in 2018. The Bible Society notes that the most dramatic increase in church attendance was among young men, challenging the old image of churches being filled primarily by elderly women.

Dr. Rhiannon McAleer, co-author of the report and Bible Society’s director of research, said: “We are seeing something we had never seen before.”

The survey, focusing on England and Wales, shows that in 2024, 5.8 million people attended church at least once a month – 12 per cent of the population – compared to 3.7 million, or 8 per cent, in 2018.

Source: The Tablet