For a generation shaped by digital isolation, broken families, and waning trust in traditional institutions, an unexpected shift is underway: young adults across the West are finding their way back to church.

New data shows a remarkable rise in religious participation, suggesting that a quiet revival — especially among Gen Z — is gaining momentum.

The following is an excerpt from a recent Bible Society report.

“In churches across society something amazing is happening, challenging long‑held predictions about the future of Christianity in the twenty‑first century. Where once we saw aging congregations and a steady decline in attendance, we see dramatic growth, led by the young. Where once we saw apathy or even hostility to Christianity and the Bible we see increased openness, again among the young. You may have heard the rumblings and rumours emerging over the past few years, you may even have noticed it in your own community, or it might have passed you by entirely – but this data shows that it is real. This is the Quiet Revival. For the first time, this is not just an anecdote, but is demonstrated in the latest results of a large, robust and nationally representative population study that has tracked the religious attitudes and behaviours of England and Wales since 2018.

“We found that the Church is in a period of rapid growth, driven by young adults and in particular young men. Along with this, the Church demonstrates greater ethnic diversity than ever before. Both within and outside the Church, young adults are more spiritually engaged than any other living generation, with Bible reading and belief in God on the rise. But we also see that active engagement with a church has a significant impact on the lives of attenders, with a high increase in mental and general life wellbeing – again particularly among young adults, a generation in the midst of a mental health crisis. It is also changing communities, with churchgoers more likely to feel a connection to their local area and get involved in social engagement activities. Challenges remain for the Church and civic society in responding to this Quiet Revival, but its reality can no longer be denied.”

The statistics tell a compelling story. In 2018, only 4% of those ages 18–24 in England and Wales attended church at least once a month. Today, that number has surged to 16%. 

 

Young men, in particular, have embraced this shift, rising from 4% to 21%; young women from 3% to 12%. Overall churchgoers have increased from 3.7 million to 5.8 million between 2018 and 2024 — a 56% boost that contradicts long‑standing narratives of a waning faith.

A key differentiation is that this is not a resurgence of shallow, feel‑good spirituality. As First Things editor R.R. Reno observes, this generation is looking for “Strong Religion” — a faith that demands accountability, sacrifice, and discipline, rewarding its followers with a profound sense of belonging and spiritual depth.

“Their world has been shaped by broken families, digital alienation, and a crisis of trust,” Reno writes. In this context, many young people have rejected the prevailing belief that absolute autonomy equals true freedom. 

“This gospel of fulfillment” — a worldview that treats traditional boundaries as burdens — has left countless Gen Z men and women feeling unmoored and dissatisfied.

What’s rising in its place is a desire for groundedness, permanence, and belonging. Even when expressed in more traditional or post‑liberal forms, this trend signals the same thing: a generation’s refusal to accept the spiritual void that defined their upbringing.

The cultural shift doesn’t end with church attendance. The “trad” movement — a revitalization of traditional family roles — is gaining traction, especially among young women. Against a backdrop that often pits career advancement and caregiving roles as competing interests, many now seek permission to choose a path that embraces nurturing a family and making a home.

For Gen Z, this rediscovery of heritage and spirituality offers more than nostalgia. It provides a path out of the despair and cynicism that shaped their formative years. Yet, this renewal will only deepen if churches rise to the moment, offering more than digital slogans and superficial preaching. 

What this generation craves is depth, discipline, beauty, and belonging — an invitation to walk a harder, higher path.

If sustained, this quiet revival could reshape not only the Church, but also a culture in desperate need of its hopeful witness.