The Silent Revival: Young People Are Returning to Church – Are We Ready?

A few Sundays ago, I found myself in a small church in East London. I was the guest speaker. What stood wasn’t the church set up, or even the music, it was the crowd. Mostly young people. Some students, some professionals, some in tracksuits, others in trousers and shirts. The kind of quiet diversity that doesn’t feel engineered. The kind that just… is. I’ve started seeing this more and more.

Across the country, something is happening that few people are talking about. Church attendance, particularly among young adults is rising. Not dramatically but it is rising

The data backs it up. A recent study by Bible Society and YouGov shows that monthly church attendance in England and Wales has increased from 3.7 million in 2018 to 5.8 million in 2024. Among 18–24-year-olds, attendance has risen from 4% to 16%. For young men in particular, it’s grown to 21%. That means one in five young men in that age bracket are attending church monthly.

This is not what most people expect to hear. The dominant story is still that churches are in decline, young people are disengaged, and faith is fading from public life. However this “silent revival” suggests something else is going on—quietly, below the surface.

It’s easy to explain this away as a statistical blip, however that would miss the deeper story. After years of political instability, social isolation, and uncertainty about the future, it makes sense that a generation would begin to ask deeper questions. Questions about meaning, truth and what’s worth holding onto when everything else feels shaky.

Church, at its best, offers space for those questions. Not always answers straight away but space to being exploring with trusted people. Some churches are seeing this and responding. They’re creating room for curiosity. They’re taking young people seriously not just as volunteers for children’s work, but as leaders, teachers, and thinkers. Others are still catching up and haven’t actually worked this out yet.

In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul tells the young Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his age, but to be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. That challenge still stands for both the Timothys of today and for those who lead them.

The Bible is full of stories where the younger generation brings renewal. Josiah was only eight when he became king. Samuel heard God’s voice before the temple priests did. Even Jesus started confounding the teachers at twelve. This isn’t new but it is very timely.

How should we respond to this moment?

First, we need to pay attention. Revival doesn’t always come with flashing lights. Sometimes it comes in a conversation after church, or a student asking to get baptised, or someone bringing their friend along for the first time. If we’re too focused on what’s missing, we’ll miss what’s already growing and what we can tap into

Second, we need to create space. That means rethinking how we disciple. Are we helping young people understand Scripture in a meaningful way? Are we making room for questions that don’t have neat answers? Do we trust them enough to lead even if they don’t get it all right straight away?

And third, we need to live what we preach. This generation can spot inauthenticity from a mile off. If we say Jesus is central, but our lives suggest otherwise, they won’t stick around. On the other hand if we’re honest about our faith, our doubts, our routines, and our hopes—they might just find something worth staying for.

At On Mission, we’ve always believed that the gospel still has power today. Not just power to save, but power to sustain—to shape lives, communities, and futures. The quiet return of young people to church isn’t a trend. It’s a sign of spiritual hunger. A sign that beneath the noise of modern life, there are still people searching for God.

Let’s not miss what He’s doing. Let’s not wait for it to get loud before we start paying attention.