Surge in Online Church Engagement Amid Easter Celebrations
The Church of England’s website AChurchNearYou.com has recorded a sharp rise in activity, sharing over 11,000 church services and events on social media. Page views climbed from 128.1 million in 2023 to 198.6 million in 2024. This surge coincided with Holy Week, traditionally one of the busiest periods for churches, which begins with Palm Sunday and culminates in Easter.
Increased Interest Reflected in Digital Interaction
Amaris Cole, the Church of England’s Head of Digital, highlighted the public’s growing desire to connect with local churches. She emphasized that churches frequently report newcomers who found them through the site. In April alone, churches added about 20,000 events to their calendars. Website features, such as accessibility tags, have made it easier for visitors to find suitable services.
Young Adults Drive a Quiet Revival
Recent research by the Bible Society, conducted via YouGov, suggests a quiet revival of Christianity among young adults in the United Kingdom. Church attendance among adults rose from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024. Men aged 18–24 showed the largest growth, from 4% to over 20%. Young women in the same age group saw attendance double from 4% to 12%. A notable number of young non-churchgoers expressed interest in attending services if personally invited.
Trust in the Church of England Faces Challenges
Despite encouraging engagement figures, the Church of England faces trust issues. A YouGov poll conducted in February indicated the Church’s favorability rating dropped from 32% in November to 25%. Unfavorable views surged from 39% to 49%. Among Anglicans, favorable opinions fell from 66% to 54%, largely due to scandals related to abuse and safeguarding failures.
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Church of England hopeful after seeing 268% rise in social media interest in church services
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