Latest news with #TheQuietRevival
The Independent
26-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Gen Z Catholics pay tribute to ‘progressive' Pope Francis
Gen Z churchgoers have shared their 'solemn' tributes to Pope Francis, after new figures revealed a dramatic growth in Catholicism among young adults. A recent survey entitled The Quiet Revival, commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, showed 18 to 24-year-olds are the second largest demographic of churchgoers in the UK, having risen from 4% to 16% between 2018 and 2024. The figures also found 25 to 34-year-olds have seen an increase from 4% to 13% in church attendance during the same time period. The data suggests Gen Z are particularly drawn to Roman Catholicism, which accounts for a significant rise in the number of Catholics in England. James Gallagher, 25, a youth minister intern from Aberdeen in Scotland, said young people are encouraged by the community aspect that the Catholic Church brings. Mr Gallagher, an economics graduate, had started a career in the financial services after leaving university but decided to pursue a more meaningful career closer to his faith. 'I went into financial services for a year and a half, and I had done some other things for about six months after that, just some travelling, sailing and working at another company,' Mr Gallagher told the PA news agency. 'It was enjoyable and everything but this meant more to me. 'Christians go out, they go out to tell people that Christ loves them.' Mr Gallagher, who was raised Catholic, said he started to take his faith more seriously when he became a student at the University of Edinburgh. 'At the age of 15, I thought I am Christian, and started taking things a bit more seriously,' he said. 'It wasn't till I went to university and got involved in the chaplaincy and met other young people my age that I really became alive.' Mr Gallagher, who says he had considered the priesthood, also volunteered with a homeless project run by nuns while studying in Edinburgh. 'Young people are encouraged by the community aspect of the Church,' he said. 'We've got more people coming and there is just more of an interest in all facets.' Mr Gallagher, who is currently working at a Catholic Retreat Centre, in Keswick in Cumbria, said the passing of Pope Francis has brought Catholicism to the forefront again. 'Pope Francis was definitely going out to the margins, helping people and so on,' he said. 'He was progressive as he tried to do things with refugees and to kind of shake up things a bit and get us out of our comfort zone.' He said he hopes the next pope will bring more of a focus on missionary work. Alice Bryant, a 28-year-old primary school teacher from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, who was raised Catholic, said she started to take her faith more seriously in recent years. 'I kind of fell away from the Church, as I think a lot of people do,' Ms Bryant told PA. 'Then I came back just a couple of years ago, with a firm faith, whereas before growing up, it wasn't as firm. 'I go to mass without fail every Sunday. And then if I can during school holidays, I might go during the day as well. 'I also quite often will go on retreats to either a convent, monastery or a retreat centre.' Ms Bryant said a lot of young people are turning to religion as they are interrogating the world around them and figuring out how they want to live. 'There's been a resurgence in young adults coming to church,' she said. 'I've been quite active in trying to create and be part of a community, because I think that is really important in your faith.' Ms Bryant said although it is a solemn moment the passing of the pope came at quite a 'beautiful time' at Easter. 'It is a very sort of solemn moment. But I think it's come at a very beautiful time having, you know, he's just celebrated Easter, and then Easter Monday for it to happen,' she said.
Powys County Times
26-04-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Gen Z Catholics pay tribute to ‘progressive' Pope Francis
Gen Z churchgoers have shared their 'solemn' tributes to Pope Francis, after new figures revealed a dramatic growth in Catholicism among young adults. A recent survey entitled The Quiet Revival, commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, showed 18 to 24-year-olds are the second largest demographic of churchgoers in the UK, having risen from 4% to 16% between 2018 and 2024. The figures also found 25 to 34-year-olds have seen an increase from 4% to 13% in church attendance during the same time period. The data suggests Gen Z are particularly drawn to Roman Catholicism, which accounts for a significant rise in the number of Catholics in England. James Gallagher, 25, a youth minister intern from Aberdeen in Scotland, said young people are encouraged by the community aspect that the Catholic Church brings. Mr Gallagher, an economics graduate, had started a career in the financial services after leaving university but decided to pursue a more meaningful career closer to his faith. 'I went into financial services for a year and a half, and I had done some other things for about six months after that, just some travelling, sailing and working at another company,' Mr Gallagher told the PA news agency. 'It was enjoyable and everything but this meant more to me. 'Christians go out, they go out to tell people that Christ loves them.' Mr Gallagher, who was raised Catholic, said he started to take his faith more seriously when he became a student at the University of Edinburgh. 'At the age of 15, I thought I am Christian, and started taking things a bit more seriously,' he said. 'It wasn't till I went to university and got involved in the chaplaincy and met other young people my age that I really became alive.' Mr Gallagher, who says he had considered the priesthood, also volunteered with a homeless project run by nuns while studying in Edinburgh. 'Young people are encouraged by the community aspect of the Church,' he said. 'We've got more people coming and there is just more of an interest in all facets.' Mr Gallagher, who is currently working at a Catholic Retreat Centre, in Keswick in Cumbria, said the passing of Pope Francis has brought Catholicism to the forefront again. 'Pope Francis was definitely going out to the margins, helping people and so on,' he said. 'He was progressive as he tried to do things with refugees and to kind of shake up things a bit and get us out of our comfort zone.' He said he hopes the next pope will bring more of a focus on missionary work. Alice Bryant, a 28-year-old primary school teacher from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, who was raised Catholic, said she started to take her faith more seriously in recent years. 'I kind of fell away from the Church, as I think a lot of people do,' Ms Bryant told PA. 'Then I came back just a couple of years ago, with a firm faith, whereas before growing up, it wasn't as firm. 'I go to mass without fail every Sunday. And then if I can during school holidays, I might go during the day as well. 'I also quite often will go on retreats to either a convent, monastery or a retreat centre.' Ms Bryant said a lot of young people are turning to religion as they are interrogating the world around them and figuring out how they want to live. 'There's been a resurgence in young adults coming to church,' she said. 'I've been quite active in trying to create and be part of a community, because I think that is really important in your faith.' Ms Bryant said although it is a solemn moment the passing of the pope came at quite a 'beautiful time' at Easter. 'It is a very sort of solemn moment. But I think it's come at a very beautiful time having, you know, he's just celebrated Easter, and then Easter Monday for it to happen,' she said.
South Wales Guardian
26-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Gen Z Catholics pay tribute to ‘progressive' Pope Francis
A recent survey entitled The Quiet Revival, commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, showed 18 to 24-year-olds are the second largest demographic of churchgoers in the UK, having risen from 4% to 16% between 2018 and 2024. The figures also found 25 to 34-year-olds have seen an increase from 4% to 13% in church attendance during the same time period. The data suggests Gen Z are particularly drawn to Roman Catholicism, which accounts for a significant rise in the number of Catholics in England. James Gallagher, 25, a youth minister intern from Aberdeen in Scotland, said young people are encouraged by the community aspect that the Catholic Church brings. Mr Gallagher, an economics graduate, had started a career in the financial services after leaving university but decided to pursue a more meaningful career closer to his faith. 'I went into financial services for a year and a half, and I had done some other things for about six months after that, just some travelling, sailing and working at another company,' Mr Gallagher told the PA news agency. 'It was enjoyable and everything but this meant more to me. 'Christians go out, they go out to tell people that Christ loves them.' Mr Gallagher, who was raised Catholic, said he started to take his faith more seriously when he became a student at the University of Edinburgh. 'At the age of 15, I thought I am Christian, and started taking things a bit more seriously,' he said. 'It wasn't till I went to university and got involved in the chaplaincy and met other young people my age that I really became alive.' Mr Gallagher, who says he had considered the priesthood, also volunteered with a homeless project run by nuns while studying in Edinburgh. 'Young people are encouraged by the community aspect of the Church,' he said. 'We've got more people coming and there is just more of an interest in all facets.' Mr Gallagher, who is currently working at a Catholic Retreat Centre, in Keswick in Cumbria, said the passing of Pope Francis has brought Catholicism to the forefront again. 'Pope Francis was definitely going out to the margins, helping people and so on,' he said. 'He was progressive as he tried to do things with refugees and to kind of shake up things a bit and get us out of our comfort zone.' He said he hopes the next pope will bring more of a focus on missionary work. Alice Bryant, a 28-year-old primary school teacher from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, who was raised Catholic, said she started to take her faith more seriously in recent years. 'I kind of fell away from the Church, as I think a lot of people do,' Ms Bryant told PA. 'Then I came back just a couple of years ago, with a firm faith, whereas before growing up, it wasn't as firm. 'I go to mass without fail every Sunday. And then if I can during school holidays, I might go during the day as well. 'I also quite often will go on retreats to either a convent, monastery or a retreat centre.' Ms Bryant said a lot of young people are turning to religion as they are interrogating the world around them and figuring out how they want to live. 'There's been a resurgence in young adults coming to church,' she said. 'I've been quite active in trying to create and be part of a community, because I think that is really important in your faith.' Ms Bryant said although it is a solemn moment the passing of the pope came at quite a 'beautiful time' at Easter. 'It is a very sort of solemn moment. But I think it's come at a very beautiful time having, you know, he's just celebrated Easter, and then Easter Monday for it to happen,' she said.
Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Times
Catholic church has new appeal for the young
The late Pope Francis was a controversial pontiff. Although many hailed his compassion and desire for peace in the world, traditionalists thought that his outspoken and left-wing political interventions, such as his hostility to capitalism and support for mass migration, drowned out the spiritual message that the church should be imparting. Nevertheless, millions seem to have assimilated precisely such a spiritual message. In recent years, there has been a striking movement towards both Catholicism and Pentecostalism. According to The Quiet Revival, a survey commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, upwards of two million more people are attending church in England and Wales than six years ago, a rise of 50 per cent. • Who will be the next Pope? The candidates
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
I'm delighted to see gen Z men flocking back to church – I just hope it's for the right reasons
For decades, there has been a cultural narrative that the church is a declining institution, which has been backed up by data that shows fewer and fewer British people are attending services. You might expect churches to be busy over festivals like this past Easter weekend, or Christmas, but with otherwise sparse crowds and aging parishioners for the rest of the year. However, a recent survey entitled The Quiet Revival, commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, shows that church attendance in England and Wales has actually increased by 50% over the past six years, and that young people aged between 18 and 24 are the second largest demographic in attendance (behind those who are 65 and over). The trend is especially strong with young men, with 21% aged 18 to 24 saying they attend church at least once a month, compared with 12% of young women. The data also shows that generation Z are particularly drawn to Roman Catholicism, which accounts for a significant rise in the number of Catholics in England, almost closing the overall gap between those who identify as Catholic and those who identify as Anglican. England and Wales are not alone in seeing more young men attending church, with the New York Times religion correspondent, Ruth Graham, reporting that the same trend can be seen across the US. Graham is blunt in her proposed reason for this, stating that men are less educated than their female peers, while also placing a higher value on traditional family structures, meaning that they find encouragement and reinforcement in conservative church communities. This is a somewhat unsympathetic reading of the circumstances, but when attempting to locate the possible influences on these young men, the landscape does look bleak. Thanks to the recent Netflix show Adolescence, there has been much public reckoning with the radicalisation of young boys and men through online spaces and podcasts that are overtly misogynistic – and plenty of these masquerade as platforms of Christian, specifically Catholic, values. The Instagram page acts as a Catholic 'meme page', with openly homophobic, antisemitic and culturally conservative content, posting quotes about anti-abortion movements and generally being against 'liberalism'. There is very little interaction with actual biblical scripture or Catholic practice, beyond using a vaguely defined idea of it to justify a celebration of rightwing ideas and talking points. Tristan Tate, brother of the infamous male lifestyle influencer Andrew Tate, has also been vocal about his conversion to Christianity. The Tate brothers reside in Romania (where they are facing charges of human trafficking, which they deny), and Tristan has spoken about the strong belief in God among Romanians that encouraged him to convert. He also identifies abortion as one of the topics that he now 'takes seriously'. Tristan Tate and other influencers place emphasis on the real misogynistic or reactionary elements of some Christian movements, and make them part of their wider ecosystem of influence on young men and boys. The Bible Society's report states that more research is needed to fully discern where a desire to join Christian faith communities has stemmed from. The murkier corners of the internet are very probably a factor, but I can't help but remain cautiously optimistic about the findings. The report also highlights how a significant concern for all of the gen Z participants interviewed is social activism, with far more churchgoing interviewees recording that they do frequent community and charity work compared to those who are not church members. This work is recorded as donating to food banks, financial donations to charities, voting in elections, writing to local representatives and communal work such as litter picking. These are hopeful statistics that demonstrate a positive participation in society that is encouraged by churchgoing. What both of these possible influences highlight is an overriding wish for community, whether in the more rigid boundaries of the Catholic church, or in the collective work that English and Welsh churches of all denominations encourage and facilitate. An instinct towards a collective with a solid foundation is understandable in an age bracket that has had its education, whether in secondary school or university (or both), disrupted by a global pandemic. Where school or university should have provided a social outlet for young people alongside their education, necessity meant that they instead had isolated experiences. On top of this, years of austerity in England and Wales has meant that community centres and public halls have drastically declined in numbers, with spending on libraries, theatres and museums falling. Young people looking for community may find that a local church or cathedral is the only place close to them with regular opening hours and people ready to talk and listen. That these same churches and cathedrals very often organise group charity work is a clear plus. In my own constituency area of Liverpool Riverside, Micah is the charitable arm of Liverpool Cathedral and other churches, providing food and financial aid to local people in need, and it was a big reason for my own initial interest in joining the church. As a regular churchgoer, it would be lovely to celebrate the findings of The Quiet Revival and to leave it at that. However, the data is so unusual and unexpected that it invites analysis – and when digging for clues, not all of them are positive. What can be discerned is that more people are searching for meaning in an ever-changing and demonstrably politically unstable world, and they are finding this in multiple forms of Christianity. This is good and should be celebrated – but as people who have a vested interest in our neighbours, we should also look out for signs of possible online radicalisation and tendencies towards hateful speech in the guise of Jesus's influence. Jessica White is a writer based in Liverpool
