In 2025, the Bible Society published its report on the Quiet Revival, described as a “revolutionary” challenge to public assumptions about the decline of Christianity in England and Wales. The Church was in a “period of rapid growth, driven by young adults and in particular young men”, the report said, and the trend of decline had been reversed. Matthew Arnold’s tide of faith was coming back in.
The study was published on the back of anecdotal accounts of a shift in the public conversation about Christianity, with public intellectuals talking candidly about their own conversion, and a decline in the contemptuous tone that characterised New Atheism.
But is the Church of England experiencing a share of this revival? Some have expressed concern that the Church will “miss out” on the opportunity presented. As we enter 2026, Church Times has brought together speakers from across the Church, representing different traditions, to share stories of local growth, with the aim of offering encouragement, practical advice, and a shared sense of mission.
While growth might not look like the dramatic revivals of earlier centuries, we know that every day people are coming to faith.
Speakers:
Fr Duncan Hegan, Assistant Curate at St Alban the Martyr, Holborn, and co-founder of Fidelium, a lay-led network of Anglo-Catholic young adults on: ‘What role does tradition play in drawing in young people?’
The Revd Dr Christian Selvaratnam, St Hild’s Dean of Church Planting in conversation with the Revd Marcus Walker, Rector of St Bartholomew, Spitalfields on: ‘Perspectives on growth in the parish, and in the planting of “New Things”’.
The Revd Dr Richard Tiplady, associate at Brendan Research, and author of What’s in our hands: Rural mission learning review in conversation with the Revd Simon Butler, Rector of the North Hampshire Downs Benefice and a pioneer of the “Benefice of the future” programme on: ‘Growth and sustainability in rural parishes’.
The Revd Dr Jonathan Kimber, Chaplain of King’s College, Cambridge on: ‘What does leadership look like, in an era of growth programmes and strategies?’
Mthr Arwen Folkes, Vicar of Eastbourne on: ‘Growing a sacramental church in a seaside town’.
Dr Belle Tindall-Riley, writer at the Centre for Cultural Witness on: ‘Through which routes are young people exploring Christianity?’
The Revd Dr David Goodhew, Vicar of St Barnabas Church, Middlesbrough, Visiting fellow of St John’s College, Durham University, and former director of the Centre for Church Growth Research on: ‘What do the statistics tell us about growth in the Church of England?’
The Revd Peter Dale, curate at St Francis, Mackworth on: ‘Growing a church plant on a housing estate.’
Fr Stephen Langridge, parish priest at St Elizabeth of Portugal Catholic Church on: ‘Growing a Roman Catholic parish’.
A final word from Dr Andrew Rumsey, the Bishop of Ramsbury.